Crossing the Loire (Franchir la Loire)

Published on 14 October 2016 - Updated 14 January 2020

Braving the dangers and difficulties to reach the other side has always been a necessity. People living near the river, tradesfolk and travellers crossed the river making use of fords, punts and ferries. Bridges over the Loire were a long time coming. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were major bridge building projects on the Loire, a policy of construction and developments got underway. It was not until the 19th century, however, that the numbers of these really increased, thanks to the spread of railways and the boom in metal construction. The Briare canal bridge and the Nantes ferry bridge are two of the most iconic constructions of the period.