Faidherbe Bridge – Saint-Louis, Senegal - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

Faidherbe Bridge

Saint-Louis, Senegal

A 19th-century architectural masterpiece with ties to Gustave Eiffel.  

View all photos
Faidherbe Bridge
Faidherbe Bridge
On the other side of the bridge, Saint Louis. alessandro cini (Atlas Obscura User)
46
44
Top Places in Senegal
Joal-Fadiouth Fishing Port
Joal Fadiout, Senegal
Lake Retba
Rufisque, Senegal
House of Slaves
Dakar, Senegal
 See All

The town of Saint Louis, set on an island at the mouth of the Senegal River, is a must-see location if you are traveling through Senegal. At the end of the 19th-century when the country was still a French colony, the governor decided that the old bridge composed of 40 floating pontoons needed to be replaced.

The links of the new bridge were crafted by Gustav Eiffel and were originally designed to cross the Danube. In 1897, the bridge officially opened to the public. Composed of several iron arches, the bridge has a central mechanism that turns on a pillar to allow boat passage. The entire structure spans more than 1,000 feet (500 meters) and is UNESCO World Heritage-listed, along with the entire island of Saint-Louis.

The bridge has been restored twice during its history due to the high salinity levels in the surrounding waters. It still requires constant maintenance to this day.

bridges design history & culture architecture
Community Contributors
alessandro cini
Added by
alessandro cini
Published
January 19, 2021
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Langue de Barbarie
6.41 miles
Shipwreck
80.42 miles
Lake Retba
95.44 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
A tree makes its last stand against the ocean.
Ndieulé Mbam, Senegal

Langue de Barbarie

A tree seems to grow from the ocean floor on this strange strip of sand slowly being overtaken by the sea.
Mauritania

Shipwreck

On a secluded beach is one of the few shipwrecks left on the shores of Mauritania.
Rufisque, Senegal

Lake Retba

This deceptively salty lake looks like blushing pink lemonade.
A satellite view of the Sahara
Dakar, Senegal

The Great Green Wall of Africa

Over 4,700 miles of trees being planted to hold back the desert.
Related Places
A.M. Kennedy and Sons Covered Bridge
Bloomfield, Indiana

A.M. Kennedy and Sons Covered Bridge

One of the last remaining covered bridges in the region.
MarienBrücke from the Castle 11.03.2010
Schwangau, Germany

MarienBrücke (Maria Bridge)

A unique bridge with an equally unique view.
Inside of Utica Mills Covered Bridge.
Thurmont, Maryland

Utica Mills Covered Bridge

Washed out by the Johnstown Flood in 1889, the surviving portion of the original two-span bridge now resides at Fishing Creek.
Postbridge Clapper Bridge
Postbridge, England

Postbridge Clapper Bridge

This ancient stone bridge dates back to the early Middle Ages.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web