Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The suspension bridge of Parentignat is an iconic 19th-century building built in 1830 to cross the Allier between the communes of Issoire and Parentignat, in Puy-de-Dôme. It is distinguished by its innovative system of cables composed of articulated steel bars, alternately double and quadruple, a rare technique for the time. Little modified since its construction, except for a strengthening of the deck, it is 120 meters long for 6 meters wide, with a large wrought iron span and two masonry arches.

Ranked a historic monument since October 29, 1975, the bridge was in service until 1976, when a new road bridge (the 996) was built nearby. Disused, it is now closed to all traffic, including pedestrian traffic, and belongs to the state. Its technical originality and state of conservation make it a valuable testimony to 19th-century engineering.

The bridge illustrates the evolution of infrastructure in Auvergne in the 19th century, a period marked by industrialization and the development of transport networks. Suspended bridges, such as that of Parentignat, played a key role in connecting rural and urban areas, facilitating economic and social exchanges. Their construction also reflected the metallurgical advances of the time, with the increasing use of wrought iron and steel.

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