Fades viaduct

45°58′19″N 2°48′11″E / 45.97181°N 2.80305°E / 45.97181; 2.80305CarriesRailwayCrossesSiouleLocalePuy-de-Dôme, Auvergne region,  FranceCharacteristicsDesignTruss viaductMaterialQuarried granite and steelTotal length470.25 metres (1,542.8 ft)Height132.50 metres (434.7 ft)HistoryDesignerVirard FelixConstruction start28 October 1901; 122 years ago (1901-10-28)Construction end16 September 1909; 114 years ago (1909-09-16)Opened10 October 1909; 114 years ago (1909-10-10)Location

The Fades Viaduct (French: Viaduc des Fades) is a railway viaduct in the Puy-de-Dôme department, central France. At the time of its inauguration on 10 October 1909, it was the tallest bridge in the world, across all categories. As of 2010 it still is the tenth tallest railway viaduct in the world.

The Fades Viaduct is located close to Les Ancizes-Comps, in the Auvergne region, between the communes of Sauret-Besserve and Les Ancizes-Comps. It spans across the river Sioule. Its construction began on 28 October 1901. From 14 to 16 September 1909 it passed the performance tests, The Fades Viaduct has monumental piers of quarried granite. Towering over 92 m (302 ft) in height they remain the tallest bridge piers ever built in traditional masonry. They each have a base larger than a tennis court.

• List of world's tallest bridges
• List of bridges in France
• Ommelange, E. (1905). "The Fades Viaduct". The Railroad Gazette. 34 (21): 484–486.

• The world's highest bridges [1]
• Association Sioule & Patrimoine - 37, avenue du Plan d'eau - 63770 LES ANCIZES-COMPS (France) [2]
• Building the World's Loftiest Bridge By F. A. Talbot

45°58′17″N 2°48′11″E / 45.97139°N 2.80306°E / 45.97139; 2.80306