A veritable behemoth towering over the Loire estuary, the Saint-Nazaire bridge continues to impress more than 40 years after its construction. Linking Saint-Brévin to the city of Saint-Nazaire, France’s largest bridge sees 30,000 vehicles pass over its roads every day. Here’s a look back at a must-see bridge during your camping holiday in Saint-Brévin.
A monument on the Loire estuary
With a length of over 300 meters and a height of over 60 meters above the water, the Saint-Nazaire bridge is a vertiginous sight! So it’s hard not to see it in the landscape if you’re on vacation in Saint-Brévin. These dimensions enable visitors to enjoy a breathtaking view of Saint-Brevin and its fisheries, Saint-Nazaire and its shipyards, and the continuous ballet of boats and liners passing under the bridge.
Over 40 years of history
Born of the desire to develop trade between the north and south of the estuary, the bridge now sees 11 million motorists pass over it every year! Inaugurated in 1975, after three years of construction, the Saint-Nazaire bridge project was the brainchild of a private company, Compagnie Française d’Entreprises Métalliques, subsidized by the Loire-Atlantique council. To this day, the bridge belongs to the Loire-Atlantique council, which is responsible for its upkeep.
However, when the bridge went into service, the response was not all positive – quite the contrary! At the time, demonstrations against the toll system took place on the bridge. It wasn’t until 1995 that the bridge became free of charge.
The anniversary of the Saint-Nazaire bridge
In 2015, to mark the bridge’s fortieth anniversary, some 60,000 people gathered on the bridge, which was closed to traffic for part of the day. In a festive atmosphere, participants were treated to a parade of marching bands, with music and dance providing the day’s rhythm.
The Saint-Nazaire bridge today
Cycling across the Saint-Nazaire bridge
The region is ideal for cycling, so if you’re planning to explore the surrounding area during your next stay in Saint-Brévin, it’s best to take a few precautions. Even if bicycles are allowed on the bridge, the stretch of road makes for uncomfortable riding. This is due to the strong winds blowing dozens of meters over the estuary and the narrowness of the road for cyclists.
There are several ways of crossing the bridge safely by bike. The first is to take a “bike shuttle”. Available during the summer months, it provides 10 round-trips per day, corresponding to one trip per hour between 9am and 6.30pm.
If you’d like to go camping in the off-season, you can take the bus from Saint-Brevin to Saint-Nazaire by reserving a space including a bike rack.
Les foulées du pont de Saint-Nazaire
Imagine being able to run over water – it’s possible in Saint-Brévin! A not-to-be-missed event for runners from the region and beyond, Les foulées du pont de Saint-Nazaire is a 10 km foot race. With almost 2000 registrants, the event is usually held in September, weather permitting. Calling all enthusiasts!