Viaduct of Nogent-sur-Marne

Built between 1855 and 1857 for the Paris–Mulhouse railway line, the Nogent-sur-Marne's Viaduct spans the Marne Valley. It also marks the boundary between Le Perreux-sur-Marne and Nogent-sur-Marne.
Measuring 830 meters long and 29 meters high, it remains a technical feat of 19th-century engineering.
Originally, the structure featured 30 semicircular arches, each 15 meters wide, complemented by four large 50-meter arches crossing the river. It belongs to the first generation of major railway viaducts built in France during the second half of the 19th century.
The project also included a remarkable innovation: one of the piers was set directly into the riverbed using a submerged metal caisson — a pioneering technique devised by engineer Pluyette.

After being partially destroyed by German forces in 1944, the viaduct was rebuilt in just 18 months starting in 1946. The three reconstructed arches of what locals call the “ferroduc” of Nogent-sur-Marne stand as a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Limousin Construction Company.
This firm, associated with the renowned engineer Eugène Freyssinet, became famous for designing numerous engineering structures during France’s postwar reconstruction.
The Nogent viaduct exemplifies this period of innovation and has been awarded the “Remarkable Contemporary Architecture” label in recognition of its historical and technical significance.