Seudre bridge

Discover the Seudre Bridge at La Tremblade in Charente Maritime

The Seudre Bridge at La Tremblade or Seudre viaduct is a bridge located between the towns of La Tremblade and Marennes, which spans the Seudre estuary and faces Ile d'Oléron. It connects Royan with Ile d'Oléron, Marennes and Port des Barques. It is over 1000 m long and 20 m high.

It was built in 1972, and spans La Seudre near its mouth, passing over the Port-a-sec. From the La Seudre bridge, you can see the Ile d'Oléron bridge, the Port de la Grève, and the bell tower of the Marennes church. To reach the foot of the bridge, follow the signs to Port-a-sec.

A major structure: the Seudre Bridge

Visit Seudre bridgeor Seudre viaduct, was built between 1971 and 1972 to connect La Tremblade in Marennesspans the Seudre estuary and facilitates traffic from Royan to the Ile d'Oléron.. Long de approximately 1,024 metresit rises to 20 meters highproviding a navigable channel under the main deck.

Technical data

• Structure prestressed concrete road bridge, built with precast voussoirs corbelled.

• Dimensions total length ~1,024 m, width ~10.80 m, clear deck height 20 m, 13 spans (44 m at ends, eleven 79 m spans).

• Materials more than 10,000 m³ of concrete and around 750 tonnes of steel, built by Campenon-Bernard, with prestressing reinforcement in 1997 by Freyssinet International.

• Equipment a narrow 10.80 m deck with a two-way lane and bicycle lanes on both sides.

Role and history

Prior to its construction, the Seudre was crossed by ferry, documented as early as 1629, becoming a regulated service in 1729.. The development of oyster farming in the region and the growth of Marennes encouraged the construction of the bridge to secure and facilitate trade between the two shores..

It was inaugurated in 1972The D728, then the D728E, became a nerve centre of the departmental network, avoiding the town center of Marennes and efficiently bypassing summer traffic jams..

The bridge is a strategic axis for the tourism and oyster farming. It provides a direct link between Royan, the Arvert peninsula and Ile d'Oléronin particular via Marennes and Port des Barques Wikipedia+3Cparici+3Wikipedia+3. From the bridge, you can see the Ile d'Oléron, the port of La Grève and the bell tower of Marennes..

He is also a member of The Vélodyssée (EuroVelo 1)A bike lane is sometimes considered narrow and unsafe. In response, a ferry boat was put into service in the summer to avoid the need for bicycle crossings during the tourist season (June-September 2025)..

Natural environment and heritage

The bridge crosses the Seudre marshesa natural area of around 12,000 hectares classified Natura 2000, rich in biodiversity (migratory birds, otters, rare plants, etc.).. Visit Paths of the Seudre invite you to discover the marshes between Marennes, La Tremblade and Saujon.

The estuary is also home to picturesque ports such as port of Ribérou at Saujon (fishing and pleasure boating), which extends just downstream of the structure.

An illuminated monument

At night, the bridge is highlighted by green and blue lighting, reinforcing its status as a nocturnal architectural landmark on the estuary..

Why visit the Pont de la Seudre?

1. Strategic crossing point linking Arvert, Ile d'Oléron and Royan.

2. Technical interest a fine example of a prestressed concrete bridge with regular spans.

3. Exceptional panorama from the deck or its surroundings: view of the estuary, harbours, Ile d'Oléron.

4. Access to nature and heritage via the surrounding marshes and foot and cycle paths.

5. Local experience You can watch the oyster traffic, take a stroll around the port, or take a ferry crossing in summer.

In a nutshell

Visit Seudre bridgebuilt in 1972is a viaduct bridge of more than 1 000 m scale, essential for transit between Marennes and La Tremblade. It combines robust architectureintegration into the nationwide EuroVél0 cycling network, and a remarkable natural environment. Whether you're a fan of engineering, nature or coastal tourism, this book is well worth a visit.

La Tremblade

La Tremblade is located on the Arvert peninsula, between the Royan metropolitan area and the Ile d'Oléron. This typical town is famous for its oyster-farming huts, close to the Ile d'Oléron.

The landscape is marked by marshes and oyster beds. It's the ideal place to come on a sunny day to sample oysters - special, fines de claire - accompanied by a glass of white wine on one of the many terraces in the La Tremblade channel, overlooking La Seudre.

The Seudre bridge at La Tremblade is also a good starting point for trips to Fort Boyard and the Ile d'Aix, for example by renting a boat from the dry port located just under the Seudre bridge.

Finally, La Tremblade is just a few minutes from the town of Ronce les Bains, known for its lively summer scene and beautiful family beaches. From Ronce-les Bains, it's just a short walk to the long beaches of the Côte Sauvage, where you can enjoy the waves and fine sand, ideal for a vacation rental in La Tremblade.