Construction of tunnel 1857 (≈ 1857)
Directed by Luigi Ranco under Sardinian sovereignty.
2 septembre 1858
Commissioning
Commissioning 2 septembre 1858 (≈ 1858)
Inauguration of the Culoz-Brison-Saint-Innocent section.
1860
Connection of Savoie
Connection of Savoie 1860 (≈ 1860)
Transfer under French administration after treatment.
31 mai 1901
Laying down the second lane
Laying down the second lane 31 mai 1901 (≈ 1901)
Completion between Chindrieux and Aix-les-Bains by the PLM.
1901
Construction of the Sardes Towers
Construction of the Sardes Towers 1901 (≈ 1901)
Wayguard accommodation, neo-medieval style.
28 décembre 1984
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 28 décembre 1984 (≈ 1984)
Protection of the tunnel and the Sardes Towers.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Brison Tunnel (Tunnel Head) (Case AI 68, 1202): entry by order of 28 December 1984
Key figures
Luigi Ranco - Sardinian engineer
Directed the construction of the tunnel in 1857.
Origin and history
The Brison Tunnel is a railway tunnel located in the municipality of Brison-Saint-Innocent, Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Built in 1857 under the direction of Sardinian engineer Luigi Ranco, it is part of the Victor-Emmanuel railway line, then connecting Aix-les-Bains to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne under Sardinian sovereignty. This tunnel, 373 metres long, crosses the Chambotte massif and runs along Lake Bourget, marking a strategic point for the railway transport of the time.
The tunnel was inaugurated on 2 September 1858 with the commissioning of the section between Culoz and Brison-Saint-Innocent. Originally designed for a double track, the second was laid only in 1901, after the Savoy's attachment to France in 1860. At its ends, two crenellated towers called "Tours Sardes", built in 1901 by the company PLM, served as housing for the gatekeepers. These medievally inspired towers recall the Sardinian heritage of the region.
The tunnel and its towers have been listed as historic monuments since 28 December 1984, recognizing their heritage importance. The site illustrates the evolution of railway infrastructure between the Sardinian and French periods, as well as the architectural adaptation to the technical and aesthetic needs of the era. Today, there remains a key evidence of industrial history and cross-border trade in Savoy.
Located between the 113.528 and 113.901 kilometer points of the Culoz to Modane line, the Brison tunnel is distinguished by its 900-metre radius curve. Its layout, close to Lake Bourget, reflects the topographic challenges to connect the Alpine valleys. The work is part of a landscape marked by railway and tourist activity, between Aix-les-Bains and the mountainous mountains.
The "Sard Towers", round to the north and square to the south, add a picturesque dimension to the site. Their neo-medieval style contrasts with the industrial functionality of the tunnel, highlighting the duality between technical utility and cultural heritage. These elements, combined with the monumental inscription, make the Brison Tunnel an emblematic place of Savoyard heritage.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review