Viaduc du Mars

Viaduc du Mars is a striking 19th-century railway viaduct near Jaleyrac, in the Cantal department, in the heart of the Auvergne region. The structure spans the valley of the Mars river and the D12 departmental road, with its eastern end reaching into the neighbouring commune of Méallet. For anyone exploring Cantal, it's one of the most memorable relics of the steam-railway era, and it now carries official historic-monument status.

How did the viaduct over the Mars river come to be built?

The story begins in 1868, when authorities decided to build a railway line linking Clermont and Tulle, with a branch intended to serve local coal mines. A first section opened in 1882, and the Aurillac–Mauriac line followed in 1887. The most demanding stretch, running through the rugged terrain around Vendes, wasn't completed until 1893, since it required a string of bridges, viaducts and tunnels. Engineer Daigremont oversaw this section, while the ironwork itself was produced by the Commentry-Fourchambault foundries, one of the leading French metalworks of the period. The viaduct opened to traffic on 1 July 1893.

What does the viaduct look like?

Viaduc du Mars is a mixed masonry-and-metal structure: riveted steel lattice spans rest on solid stone piers. It comprises two 53-metre spans and two 43-metre spans, adding up to a total length of around 220 metres. This design let engineers cross a deeply cut valley without building an earthwork embankment, and the slender piers combined with the open latticework give the structure a sense of lightness despite its scale.

What can you do at the viaduct today?

The rail line through Jaleyrac operated for just over a century before traffic finally stopped on 2 July 1994. Since then, the old railway corridor in this part of Cantal has found a new life as a walking and cycling route: a stretch known as the Voie Verte du Pays de Mauriac follows the former tracks toward the old Jaleyrac station, offering a mostly flat, easy path through forests, fields and meadows that suits walkers and cyclists of any fitness level. Because of its engineering and historical significance, the viaduct itself was listed as a French historic monument by decree on 28 October 2006. Today it's mainly a scenic stop and a walking destination — a place to take in the scale of 19th-century railway engineering against Cantal's typical landscape of deep valleys and volcanic hills.

A visit to Jaleyrac pairs well with other railway heritage sites in the Auvergne region and with short walks along the Voie Verte, which winds through quiet, lightly travelled Cantal countryside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Viaduc du Mars located? The viaduct straddles the boundary between the communes of Jaleyrac and Méallet in the Cantal department, Auvergne, crossing the Mars valley and the D12 road.

Do trains still run over the viaduct? No. The railway line was closed to all traffic on 2 July 1994, and the old track bed is now mainly used by walkers and cyclists as part of the Voie Verte du Pays de Mauriac network.

How big is the viaduct? It is about 220 metres long, made up of four steel lattice spans — two of 53 metres and two of 43 metres — resting on masonry piers.

Is the viaduct a protected monument? Yes, the Viaduc du Mars was listed as a French historic monument by decree on 28 October 2006.