The Jacques Chaban-Delmas vertical-lift bridge is one of those iconic Bordeaux landmarks which you just can’t miss – unless you’re walking around with your eyes closed! So it seems like a good subject for a blog post, especially as you’ll be well placed to admire this stunning piece of Bordeaux architecture from our vacation rental by the river Garonne.
Let’s start by shooting a few facts and figures so you can impress the rest of your group as you explore the beautiful city of Bordeaux!
- Currently ranked the longest vertical lift bridge in Europe (575 metres)
- Main span: 110 metres
- Height of pylons: 77 metres
- Height of main span when fully raised: 53 metres
- Time to fully raise or lower the bridge: 11 minutes
- Inaugurated March 2013
The main aim behind this ambitious project was to improve traffic links between the left bank at the Quai de Bacalan (where you’re staying in our apartment rental) and the Bastide neighbourhood on the right bank, via the Quai de Brazza. Located between the Pont d’Aquitaine and the Pont de Pierre, it is Bordeaux’s fifth bridge over the River Garonne.
There’s no denying, it’s a huge! Understandably, some folks were worried about the structure’s visual impact, but the graceful lines actually fit in very well with the surroundings. In case you’re wondering, it was designed by architects Lavigne et Chéron.
The bridge obviously had to be engineered to allow tall sailing ships and immense cruise ships to get right into the city centre at the Port de la Lune, so-called because the loop of the River Garonne at Bordeaux resembles a lunar crescent shape.
The bridge celebrated its 1000th passage in September 2024, so those of you who are good at maths will quickly be able to work out that it has been raised and and lowered just under 100 times each year since it first went into service in 2013.
The bridge is named in honour of Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a former Prime Minister of France and mayor of Bordeaux from 1947 to 1995 (yeah, we think he deserves a bridge for such a long stint!). By the way, Chaban-Delmas was also responsible for getting rid of the original electric trams in Bordeaux in 1958, but that’s another story.
At night, the bridge is illuminated. Look carefully, the pylons turn blue at high tide and green at low tide.
In case you are thinking of gift a vertical-lift bridge of this size to your home town, you’ll need around 160 million euros to finance your project and approximately half a million euros to cover annual running costs.
I am indebted to 33-bordeaux.com for their excellent account, with many stunning photographs, of the history of the Pont Chaban-Delmas.