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Origin and history

The Chamborigaud viaduct is a masonry railway structure located on the edge of the Cevenol village of Chamborigaud, in the Gard. It spans the Luech valley, which is also known as the Luech viaduct. Its northern part, consisting of 6 arches and a half-arch, extends over the neighbouring town of Chambon. The structure, with a total length of 384 meters, combines 12 arches of 14 meters and 17 arches of 8 meters, describing an atypical curve whose concavity is facing upstream.

Built between 1 October 1865 and 1 May 1867 by the engineer Charles Dombre, assisted by Messrs Joubert and Ruelle, this viaduct was built for the Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM). It was preferred to a more ambitious project for economic reasons, imposing on the line a winding line with a curve of 200 meters radius and a ramp of 25, limiting the speed of the trains. It was put into service in 1869 and is part of the Saint-Germain-des-Fossés line at Nîmes-Courbessac, between Chamborigaud and Génolhac stations.

The viaduct was entered in the inventory of historical monuments by order of 28 December 1984, recognizing its heritage value. Its height of 46.30 meters and its masonry structure make it a remarkable example of 19th century railway engineering. Curvature rays differ between northern (240 m) and southern (200 m), reflecting the topographical constraints of the Cevenole valley.

Today, the viaduct remains a key part of the local landscape and a testament to the region's industrial history. Its functional architecture and integration into a steep natural environment illustrate the technical challenges overcome by the engineers of the time. Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) confirm its historical and technical importance.

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