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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Mallemort suspension bridge, built between 1844 and 1848, is an iconic art work of the first generation of metal bridges. It follows the model of the "wired" suspended bridges of the Seguin Brothers, improved by the technical innovations of engineer Ferdinand Arnodin from 1882. This bridge, now out of use, initially linked the communes of Mallemort (Bouches-du-Rhône) and Mérindol (Vaucluse) by crossing the Durance.

Damaged by successive floods of 1872, 1881 and 1886, the bridge was restored and consolidated between 1887 and 1892. It is distinguished by its wire lines, a technical innovation that replaced the chains used in Anglo-Saxon models. The facades and roofs of the guard's house, as well as the bridge itself, were protected by inscriptions and classifications to historical monuments, respectively, in 1986 and 2014.

Today, the bridge is inaccessible and in very poor condition, with a degraded wooden deck and walled accesses. Owned by the department, it reflects the evolution of metal construction techniques in the 19th century and their adaptation to natural constraints, such as the frequent floods of the Durance. Its architecture and history reflect the technical and environmental challenges of the time.

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