The Pont de Recouvrance of Brest !!!

Posted in Bretagne, France

I like to bring you back to the extremes of Brittany and update this older post with new text and links for you and me, This is Brest in the Finistére dept 29 of my lovely Bretagne and my belle France. A mariners’ dream and many visits many posts but always something left out. This time I like to tell you about the Pont de Recouvrance of Brest !!!  Hope you enjoy the post as I

The Pont de Recouvrance is a lifting bridge which crosses the Penfeld, in Brest. Dominating the arsenal and the military port, it connects the bottom of the rue de Siam to the district of Recouvrance, replacing the swing bridge or National bridge destroyed in 1944 by the Allied bombings. The new bridge was inaugurated on July 17, 1954, it was for a long time the largest lifting bridge in Europe. Each pylon, built in reinforced concrete, is 70 meters high. The current mobile steel span, installed in 2011, is 88 meters long, 15 meters wide, and weighs 625 tons. A wonderful bridge that we have walked with careful attention of the tramways and taken the wonderful cable car just fun times at Brest!

brest-pont-de-recouvrance-castle-side-nov13

A bit of history tell us that the Imperial or National Bridge (depending on the period) known as the big bridge inaugurated on June 23, 1861, collapsed in the river in September 1944, during the Allied bombings for the liberation of Brest from the Nazi occupation. The piles of the swing bridge remain in the state of vestiges! Even before the signing of the Nazi capitulation on May 8, 1945, the national authorities had decided to rebuild two bridges, one fixed over which the national road N12 would pass, this will be the Pont de l’Harteloire, and the other, mobile , in the heart of the city, intended for local service, this will be the Recouvrance bridge. The bridge was started in February 1950, and the official inauguration on July 17, 1954.

The Recouvrance bridge was redeveloped as part of the work for the future Brest tramway: in July 2011, the current span was installed on August 22, 2011, as part of the work for the installation of the first tramway line. The night of March 21 to 22, 2012, a first tramway train crossed the new deck. Since 2016, an urban cable car has provided the connection in 3 minutes, offering a very beautiful view of the harbor and the city. Great ride indeed!  You have great views from the Jardin des explorateurs (see post) or explorers’ gardens. From this point of view, you will be able to discover the Château de Brest,(see post) the entrance to the harbor and the military Arsenal port from another angle, as well as the bridge. This place also offers a magnificent collection of plants brought back from the four corners of the world by the famous navigator, Bougainville ( and name of a great flower tree!). Great views indeed.

To enjoy it on foot you go to either the Moulin Blanc or you leave from the old bridge(Louppe). From Moulin Blanc, walk along the beach to the old bridge. You will then be able to go underneath while going towards the greenery. Then head to Le Relecq Kerhuon. When you turn around, you will have a superb view of the bridge. The passage from the Moulin Blanc to the old bridge also reveals some well sheltered coves which allow you to enjoy the calm sunrise.

brest-port-de-moulin-blanc-nov12

The City of Brest on the Pont de Recouvrance :https://brest.fr/pont-de-recouvrance

The Brest tourist office on the Moulin Blanc marina the start the walk on the Pont de l’Iroise : https://www.brest-metropole-tourisme.fr/activite/marina-du-moulin-blanc/

The Brest tourist office on other public transports in Brest : https://www.brest-metropole-tourisme.fr/en/organiser/pratique/venir-et-se-deplacer/

The Bretagne region tourist office on Brest : https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/brest-terres-oceanes/brest/

There you go folks, now the wonderful bridges of Brest are better serve in my blog. Its always nice as said to drive into Brest over the Albert Louppe and to walk over the Recouvrance!  Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Pont de Recouvrance of Brest !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

 

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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