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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The La Seyne-sur-Mer Rising Bridge is a tilting metal structure built at the beginning of the 20th century to connect the La Seyne station with shipyards via a railway. In 1913, commissioned by the Forges and Chantiers de la Méditerranée to the Daydé de Creil company, its construction was completed in 1916 after two years of work by eight companies. Despite initial technical problems (vertical or horizontal blocks), it entered service in 1920, facilitating the transport of materials without crossing the city centre.

An industrial symbol of the city, the bridge became a local emblem after the closure of the shipyards in the 1980s. It has been a historic monument since 1987, and was restored between 2007 and 2009, with the addition of an elevator leading to a 40-metre high lookout and LED lighting. A permanent exhibition presents its original mechanisms, while its 40-metre span, weighing 123 tons, bears witness to the engineering of the time.

Originally designed for the PLM railway, the bridge was financed by war damage. Its pivots were replaced in 1927 and 1961, but its maintenance declined after the cessation of naval activities. Today, it remains upright towards the sky, offering a unique view of the port and the city. Its night light and gazebo make it a major tourist site, mixing industrial heritage and modernity.

The rising bridge illustrates the golden age of La Seyne-sur-Mer shipyards, founded in 1856 and specialized in the merchant navy. Its metallic architecture and electrical tilting system reflect the technical innovations of the early twentieth century, while its preservation underscores the local attachment to this outstanding industrial heritage.

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