The footbridge at the Château de Sully-sur-Loire is a pedestrian and cycle path connecting the castle forecourt with the city center. It replaces an old footbridge over the moat, which was closed to the public for several years for safety reasons and was finally dismantled at the beginning of 2024.
The supporting structure below, in the form of a trapezoidal steel box girder, is unobtrusive and respectful so as not to detract from the view of the castle and its forecourt. The geometry of the girder, both in cross-section and in elevation, is reminiscent of the flat-bottomed barges that used to sail on the Loire.
The footbridge crosses the moat with only one slender steel column, which is barely visible and ensures lateral stabilization of the structure. The abutments were optimized to minimize intervention in the listed masonry.
The walkway is coated with a thin, resin-sealed concrete slab that contributes to the load transfer and dynamic behavior of the structure. The wrought-iron railing complements the sensitive integration of the structure into the historical context of the Château de Sully-sur-Loire.
