The Garabit viaduct, completed in September 1884 in the Cantal region of France, is a remarkable 565-meter-long metal bridge that once soared 122 meters above the river below. Designed by engineer Léon Boyer and constructed by Gustave Eiffel and his company, the viaduct was the tallest of its kind when it was built and held the record for the largest arch span until 1886. Its construction was an ambitious feat, especially given its remote location in a valley with no existing infrastructure. To support the workers, a temporary village was established at the site. The metal parts of the viaduct were manufactured in Levallois-Perret, a suburb of Paris, and transported by train to the remote construction site. The building process, which lasted from January 1880 to September 1884, used a technique called cantilever construction. This involved building two halves of the arch from each side of the river, allowing them to meet in the center while being supported by steel cables stretched from temporary towers. The final piece, known as the keystone, was placed in April 1884, completing the structure. Despite being only a third the height of the Eiffel Tower, the Garabit viaduct weighs about half as much, showcasing the efficiency of its design. The construction methods used—such as rivets, truss beams, and precise material calculations—later influenced the building of the Eiffel Tower. However, the viaduct is often seen as a precursor to the Eiffel Tower rather than a standalone engineering achievement. In 1959, the construction of the Grandval dam on the Truyère River created a 28-kilometer-long reservoir, reducing the viaduct’s height above the water from 122 meters to 95 meters. Despite this change, the viaduct remains in use, carrying trains to this day. Between 1992 and 1998, it was repainted to restore its original red color, chosen to match the Eiffel Tower, further linking the two iconic structures in history.