Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Viaduct de la Sumène, also known as the Viaduct de Vendes, is a semi-metallic railway structure built to cross the Sumène River and the 922 departmental road. It covers the communes of Bassignac (northern part) and Méallet (southern part), in the department of Cantal, in the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. With a total length of 366 meters, it consists of five spans: three in metal meshes of 78 meters and two of 66 meters, supported by four granite masonry pillars. Its altitude is 409 metres, and it is located at the distance of 474,000 kilometres from the old line of Bourges to Miécaze, between the closed stations of Largnac and Vendes.

On 1 July 1893, the viaduct was used for rail traffic until its final closure on 2 July 1994. Since then, it has been borrowed by local herds, demonstrating an informal reconversion after its decommissioning. Its architecture combines industrial metal elements, typical of the late 19th century, and stone foundations, reflecting the railway construction techniques of the time. The viaduct illustrates the expansion of the rail network in rural areas, aimed at opening up territories such as the Central Massif.

Ranked as historical monuments by order of 28 October 2006, the Viaduct de la Sumène now embodies a remarkable industrial and technical heritage. Its official protection underlines its historical and architectural importance, as well as its role in the history of transport in Auvergne. Although the railway line is abandoned, it remains a major visual landmark in the Cantalian landscape, attracting the attention of heritage and photography enthusiasts. Available sources, such as the Merimée or Structurae base, document its technical characteristics and conservation status.

The viaduct is geographically located between two communes, with an administrative address referenced in Méallet (code Insee 15123), although its northern part falls under Bassignac. GPS coordinates place its precise location near the place known as Monplaisir, in Bassignac. This location on two communal territories adds a complex administrative dimension to its history. Internal data and Creative Commons licenses, such as those of Robin Chubret's photos, contribute to its visual and historical documentation.

Today, the Viaduct de la Sumène does not offer organized tours or structured tourist use, according to available information. Its state of conservation and accessibility are not detailed in the sources, but its inscription in historical monuments guarantees protection against degradation. It is part of a set of remarkable bridges and viaducts of the Cantal, as the viaduct of Mars located further south on the same railway line, today also disused.

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