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Origin and history

The viaduct du Mars is a semi-metallic railway structure built at the end of the 19th century, located on horseback between the communes of Méallet and Jaleyrac in the Cantal. It crosses the Mars River and the Route départementale 12, at an altitude of about 448 meters, on the line from Bourges to Miécaze. This right viaduct, with a total length of 220 metres, consists of two metal mesh spans of 53 metres and two 43 metres, resting on masonry pillars.

The construction of the viaduct is part of the creation of a railway line between Clermont and Tulle, with a branch line to Eygurande for coal mining. The line, which was partially opened in 1882, was only completed in 1893 due to natural obstacles requiring the construction of bridges, viaducts and tunnels. The engineer Daigremont was responsible for this portion, and the viaduct du Mars, executed by the Commentry-Fourchambault smelters, was commissioned on 1 July 1893.

The viaduct of the Mars was closed to all traffic on July 2, 1994, after a century of service. He was registered as a historical monument by order of 28 October 2006. The steel decks, with solid spans, are based on granite piles, illustrating the railway construction techniques of the time. Today, it reflects the industrial history and technical challenges of the 19th century in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

The viaduct is located at mileage 476,700 of the line, between the closed stations of Vendes and Jaleyrac - Sourniac. Its location, although partly on Méallet, is mainly associated with Jaleyrac, in the Cantal department. The available data underline its importance in the local railway and architectural heritage.

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