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Origin and history

The Virieux Water Bridge, located in Chabanière (Rhône), is a vestige of the Gier Waterway, one of four ancient aqueducts feeding Lugdunum (Lyon). 86 km long, this exceptional building, built between the Augustan period and the reign of Hadrian (I-II century), drew its waters from the Gier River to the capital of Gauls. Its layout, studied since the 16th century, reveals advanced Roman techniques, including siphons and water bridges.

The precise dating of the Virieux bridge remains debated. Archaeological discoveries, such as the "Chagnon Stone" (1887) bearing an edict from Hadrian, or wooden formwork dated 110 a.m. J.-C. (Régne de Trajan), suggest a construction between the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century. Aqueduct, classified as a Historical Monument in 1875 for certain sections, bears witness to the strategic importance of water for ancient Lyon, with remains still visible today.

The remains of the Virieux Bridge, registered in 1991, are integrated into a wider network including siphon bridges (such as the Beaunant Bridge) and reservoirs. The work, studied by scholars from the Renaissance (Pierre Sala, Symphorien Champier), has been the subject of recent restorations, notably in Chaponost (2009-2010). Its architecture, combining opus reticulatum and bricks, reflects Roman know-how in hydraulics.

The Gier water supply, with an estimated 15,000 m3/day, was vital for Lugdunum, a city of 50,000-80,000 inhabitants. Its protection was regulated by barricades prohibiting ploughing or nearby constructions, such as the inscription of the "Chagnon Stone". Today, its remains, including those of Virieux, offer a unique testimony of ancient engineering in France.

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