Construction of viaduct 1911–1913 (≈ 1912)
Directed by Arnodin using the Gisclard system.
11 septembre 1913
Official Inauguration
Official Inauguration 11 septembre 1913 (≈ 1913)
In the presence of President Raymond Poincaré.
31 décembre 1959
End of rail traffic
End of rail traffic 31 décembre 1959 (≈ 1959)
Closing of the Transcorrezian line.
1960–1983
Road use (D 89)
Road use (D 89) 1960–1983 (≈ 1972)
Bridge open to vehicles.
6 décembre 2000
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 6 décembre 2000 (≈ 2000)
Official heritage protection.
2005–2024
Closure for renovation
Closure for renovation 2005–2024 (≈ 2015)
Works of €9.8 million.
21 septembre 2024
Reopening to the public
Reopening to the public 21 septembre 2024 (≈ 2024)
Pedestrian and cycling access.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Viaduct which was taken by the D 89E road from Lapleau to Soursac (cad. Lapleau D; Soursac H, unnumbered public domain): by order of 6 December 2000
Key figures
Albert Gisclard - Engineer and inventor
Concept of the rigid suspension deck system.
Ferdinand Arnodin - Manufacturer
Construction and download.
Raymond Poincaré - President of the Republic
Inauguration in 1913.
Origin and history
The Black Rocks viaduct, also known as the Roche-Taillade viaduct, is a railway suspension bridge designed according to Albert Gisclard's patent and built by Ferdinand Arnodin establishments. Inaugurated in 1913, it allowed the Transcorrézien (Tramways de la Corrèze) line to connect Tulle to Ussel by crossing the gorges of Luzège, between Lapreau and Soursac. Its bold architecture, adapted to a steep terrain, combines cross wires and an Ordish suspension for optimal rigidity, foreshadowing modern decks.
Originally dedicated to rail traffic until 1959, the viaduct was converted into a road bridge (D 89) from 1960 to 1983, then reserved for pedestrians. Ranked a Historic Monument in 2000, it was closed in 2005 for old age. A major renovation (€9.8 million), financed by the State, the New Aquitaine Region, the Department of Corrèze and patrons, allowed its reopening in September 2024. The works restored its original suspension, replaced 4,800 meters of cables, and modernized the guardrails while preserving its historic design.
The viaduct is emblematic of the five remaining Gisclard bridges in France, and the only one kept in an almost original state. Its cross cable system, inspired by the Cassagne Bridge (Pyrénées-Orientales), offers a geometrically unformable structure. The two granite piles, 41.71 m high (on the Lapleau side) and 53.71 m high (on the Soursac side), rise 126 m above the Luzège. The metal apron, suspended by triangulated farms, rests on mooring massives dug into the rock.
Since 2024, the viaduct has been open to soft mobility (pedestrians, cyclists) and serves as educational support for the University of Limoges and local engineering schools. The association ASTTRE 19, established in 1993, has been active in its preservation. A Himalayan walkway, installed in 2014 below, maintains the continuity of the trail of great hiking between Soursac and Lapleau.
The construction of the viaduct (1911-1913) was a technical challenge: the steep terrain, the depth of the gorges and the inclination of the talweg imposed the choice of a rigid suspended bridge. The Gisclard system, adopted for its stability, avoided the dangerous oscillations of conventional suspended bridges. Local materials (granit) and an Arnodin download (carrying 172 m) facilitated logistics. The inauguration by President Raymond Poincaré stressed its importance for regional settlement.
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