The viaduc de la Recoumène

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Marvel at this stone giant from another era in the Vallon de la Gazeille between Le Monastier sur Gazeille and Estables. Tucked away in the volcanic landscape, the viaduct is a great place for incredible photo shots and also to overcome any fear of heights !

Built entirely from local basalt, the viaduct is 270 metres long, with 8 round arches, each with a span of 25 metres, and it is 70 metres above the river. It is curved with a horizontal radius of 325 metres. It is considered as a technological achievement for its elegance.

The viaduct was originally built as part of the planned Transcévenole railway line across the Cevennes between Puy-en-Velay and Nieigles-Prades in Ardèche, a project which never saw the light of day.

Viaduc de la Recoumène — Construction of the Recoumène Viaduct began in October 1921, initially planned to accommodate a rail line connecting Le Puy (Haute-Loire) to Aubenas (Ardèche), this line project was aborted and the bridge would therefore never see switch from train. It was the engineer Paul Séjourné, considered to be the most brilliant bridge and road engineers of his time, who created the masterpiece. Decorated with the national order of the Legion of Honor with the motive: "designed and built, on various railway lines, wide-opening bridges worthy of being cited as models ..". To quote Auguste Jouret, who participated in the construction of the viaduct at the start of his engineering career: “The Recoumène viaduct is the last piece of bravery of this time. Placed against a harsh landscape, it offers itself in its racy and cold elegance, a free tribute to basalt. Free indeed because, authentic work of art, it ultimately only serves to be viewed ”.

Located in the open air, about twenty km from Puy-en-Velay, the bridge can be crossed on foot, by bike or on horseback as far as Présailles (25 km). 1.5 km further it crosses the Mézard stream and after crossing the valley of the same name, it arrives at the hamlet of Avouac, this was where the railway line entered into a tunnel. For thrill seekers, this is an opportunity to practice bungee jumping, its height of 70 m impresses but the feeling of flight is unmatched. The jumping season is open from early May to late October.