Jacques-Gabriel Bridge
The bridge spans the Loire river in the middle of Blois, between the downtown (from the same axis of the Denis Papin staircase) and Vienne on the left bank (aligned to "Wilson Avenue"). Since the 11st century, a stone bridge was used to link both banks. In the night between February 6 and 7, 1716, this medieval bridge collapsed. The construction of a new bridge is decided by August 1716. The project management is given by Duke Philippe of Orléans to Jacques Gabriel, yet King Louis XVI's official architect. As early as the end of that year, a regiment from Piedmont is called to build the bridge. The infrastructure is inaugurated on May 4, 1724, with an 14.6m-high obelisk standing in its middle.
History
Since its construction, the edifice holds the name of the architect who designed it, Jacques Gabriel.