The Marc Seguin footbridge over the Rhône river

The Marc-Seguin footbridge, linking Tournon-sur-Rhône in the Ardèche to Tain-l’Hermitage in the Drôme, embodies a major advance in 19th century engineering. Designed by engineer Marc Seguin, this suspension bridge remains an emblematic witness to French industrial history and a vital link between the two banks of the Rhône.

The Marc Seguin footbridge, between Tain and Tournon

Built in 1847 and opened to the public in 1849, the Marc-Seguin footbridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the Rhône, linking the communes of Tournon-sur-Rhône and Tain-l’Hermitage in theArche Agglomeration. It is the oldest suspension bridge in France still in service, and is now reserved for pedestrians. This emblematic structure illustrates two centuries of adapting crossings of the Rhône to the needs of local residents, road traffic and shipping.

Designed by engineer Marc Seguin, this structure is an improved version of his first suspension bridge, built in 1825 alongside the existing one, which was destroyed for the new construction. A royal decree in 1847, during the July Monarchy, authorised the construction of this new structure. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1849, providing a modern road crossing between the two banks of the river, well before the major bridges of the ^20th century.

Once a road bridge accessible to vehicles, it is now a footbridge reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, offering a picturesque passage between the two towns and making it the oldest Himalayan footbridge in France.

Postcard with the 2 bridges / Maison du fleuve Rhône *

A bridge of history

In 2026, the bridge celebrates 177 years of service to the public on both sides of the river; a look back at some key dates.

The first suspension bridge (1825)

In 1825, Marc Seguin, an engineer from Annonay, built the first suspension bridge in continental Europe using braided wire cables. This bridge linked the two banks of the Rhône river and represented a major innovation compared with the wrought-iron chains used until then.

However, this first structure soon proved unsuitable for river navigation because it was too high for steamers to pass over, forcing them to lower their chimneys when crossing. It was demolished in 1847, when a new bridge was built.

Engraving of the first suspension bridge in 1825

The current footbridge (1849)

To remedy these limitations, Marc Seguin designed a new footbridge, built between 1847 and 1849, a little downstream from the previous one. This suspension bridge, which is higher and wider, allows better river and road traffic.

Between the wars, however, the increase in road traffic made the 1849 bridge inadequate, and a new suspension bridge project was studied from 1938 onwards, only to be halted by the Second World War. In August 1944, during the Liberation, the span on the right bank was destroyed when eight suspension cables broke, the result of resistance action aimed at neutralising the crossing. The Baudin company intervened in January 1945 to restore the footbridge, underlining the strategic and local importance of this crossing.

The bridge was converted into a pedestrian footbridge when the new Gustave-Toursier bridge was opened in 1958.

Geography of the bridge

The Marc-Seguin footbridge is 184 metres long and comprises two timber and iron spans of around 90 metres each, supported by a central stone pier in the shape of a monumental arch. The useful width is 6 metres between the railings, including two 0.75-metre pavements, reminiscent of its original purpose as a road bridge.

The suspension is based on eight fan-shaped cables (four upstream, four downstream), each made up of 392 wires, connected to moorings anchored in the ashlar abutments. The deck and railings are made of wood, while a system of internal galleries provides access to the anchors for inspections and maintenance.

The Marc-Seguin footbridge spans the Rhône just after its confluence with the Doux river, linking two towns, two départements and two geologically different areas. It is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and offers a panoramic view of the Hermitage hills, the Château de Tournon and the surrounding vineyards.

Locate the Marc Seguin footbridge over the Rhône

Key dates for the gateway

1825
Construction of the first suspension bridge by Marc Seguin, using wire cables, a first in continental Europe.

1847-1849
Construction of the current footbridge, better suited to the needs of the time.

1958
Opening of the Gustave-Toursier bridge, converting the footbridge into a pedestrian walkway.

1965
Destruction of the first bridge built in 1825. A local anecdote recounts that the people of Tournon blindfolded the statue of Marc Seguin during the demolition, as a mark of respect for the engineer.

1985
The footbridge is listed as a historic monument*, in recognition of its heritage importance.

1989
Since then, extensive restoration work has been carried out using the original techniques and materials, consolidating its status as a symbol of 19th-century civil engineering and a major landscape landmark between the Ardèche and Drôme.

2025
Celebration of the bicentenary of Marc Seguin’s first suspension bridge, with exhibitions and commemorative events organised in both communes.