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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Firmin-sur-Loire canal bridge is a hydraulic structure designed to allow the lateral canal at the Loire to cross the departmental road 951. Just 180 metres from Briare Canal Bridge, it is distinguished by an elliptical arch 10.7 metres long, framed by two evasive arches, offering a clear and luminous roadway. Its bowl allows the crossing of two boats, while guard doors protect the valley from the floods of the Loire.

Built between 1891 and 1896 under the direction of the ordinary engineer Sigault and the chief engineer Mazoyer, the canal bridge is part of the project to develop the new Briare bay, inaugurated on 16 September 1896. The structure rests on a concrete solid of 1.10 metres thick, placed on piles and surrounded by piles, illustrating the hydraulic construction techniques of the period.

Ranked as a Historic Monument by order of 12 May 1976, the Saint-Firmin canal bridge testifies to the 19th century French engineering and its adaptation to the challenges posed by the waterways. Its functional architecture, combining practical utility and flood resistance, makes it an emblematic example of the river industrial heritage of the Centre-Val de Loire region.

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