New travelling exhibition: “Crossing the Loire”

It has always been necessary to brave the dangers and difficulties involved in getting to the other side. Riverside dwellers, traders and travellers chanced their luck wading across fords or aboard ferries great and small. For many years, there were few bridges across the Loire. 

Major bridge-building work was carried out in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, seeing the start of construction and development policies. 

But it wasn’t until the 19^th century that such construction really took off, largely thanks to development of railway lines and improvement of metal construction techniques. The Briare canal bridge and the Nantes transporter bridge are both emblematic of the period. 

In wartime, such works became strategic stakes and the Loire a much coveted thoroughfare. The Loire and war have a long shared history and recurrent phases of destruction/reconstruction marked the 20^th century. 

Presentations in 2014:

• 16 July to 1 September: Musée de la Marine de Loire (Châteauneuf-sur-Loire)
• 1 October to 31 December: Maison de Loire, Indre-et-Loire (Montlouis-sur-Loire)
• Tuesday 25 November: Loire Valley Rendezvous (Tours)

On this website:

• Follow the travelling exhibitions