1724: The Inauguration of an Arch Bridge in France

May 4, 1724

In central France, an arch bridge in the present-day prefecture and commune of Blois was formally opened. The structure, which spans the Loire river, was built to replace a stone bridge that dated back to the 11^th century and destroyed by massive ice floes in February 1716.

Construction on the replacement bridge began the following year. This structure was designed by Jacques Gabriel (1667-1742), who had been not only the official architect of Louis XIV (1638-1715) but also one of that long-reigning king’s most trusted advisors. The new bridge was named after Gabriel.  

More than three centuries later, the Jacques-Gabriel Bridge remains in service despite having been significantly damaged a few times throughout the years – perhaps most notably in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War; and in both 1940 and 1944 during World War II. Measuring 928 feet (283 meters) in length, the bridge consists of 11 arches altogether. It accommodates motor vehicles as well as bicycles and pedestrians.

Photo Credit: Krzysztof Golik (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Tournasol7) – licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

For more information on the Jacques-Gabriel Bridge, please check out https://loroplanner.com/en/attraction/jacquesgabriel_bridge_blois-france