Initial construction 1754 (≈ 1754)
Bridge built to cross the non-carrossable gully.
1878
Railway transformation
Railway transformation 1878 (≈ 1878)
Doubled and raised for the railway line.
16 juin 1997
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 16 juin 1997 (≈ 1997)
Official heritage recognition.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Pont (Case AB 0773, 0775): entry by order of 16 June 1997
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any actors.
Origin and history
The Pont de la Ravine des Chèvres is an iconic work of art located in Sainte-Suzanne, on the island of La Réunion. Built in 1754, it was designed to cross the only non-carrossable point on the road between Saint-Denis and Saint-Benoît, becoming the oldest bridge on the island. Its initial structure, in stonework and stonework, consisted of a single arch, reflecting the construction techniques of the colonial era.
In the 4th quarter of the 19th century (1878), the bridge was doubled and raised to accommodate the railway line and subsequently reused for National Highway 2. This transformation incorporated a concrete nozzle earthwork, illustrating the adaptation of infrastructure to modern needs. The bridge was inscribed in the Historic Monuments on June 16, 1997, recognizing its heritage value and its role in the history of the Réunion transports.
Today, the Pont de la Ravine des Goats bears witness to both colonial engineering and the technical developments of the 18th and 19th centuries. Its inscription in the landscape of Sainte-Suzanne makes it a symbol of the industrial and road heritage of La Réunion, while stressing the importance of the ravines in island planning.
