Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
17 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
18 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
20 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
21 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France La Seyne-sur-Mer Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer

Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer

Former bridge turned into an observation tower.

La Seyne-sur-Mer, France

Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer. (Structurae)   http://fr.structurae.de/structures/data/in...
Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer. (Structurae)   http://fr.structurae.de/structures/data/in...
Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer. (Structurae)   http://fr.structurae.de/structures/data/in...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Visitors passing by the Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer, a 42-meter-tall observation tower on the Seyne-sur-Mer in France might be startled when they recognize that it doesn't look anything like any other observation tower they've seen in the past. There's a good reason for that.

The Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer, completed in 1917, was once a movable railway bridge that allowed ships to pass through the harbor. When the railway was shutdown, the bridge was permanently moved into an upright position and converted to serve its current function.

It was an easy decision, as the bridge had already been constructed and was located in a smart lookout place; it wouldn't have made much sense for the French government to pay to dismantle the structure and then rebuild a new observation space using many similar materials so the bridge was set upright and has been looking out over the countryside since.

Related Tags

Architectural Oddities Outsider Architecture Architecture

Community Contributors

Edited By

nbj914

  • nbj914

Published

June 14, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • Wikipedia: Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_basculant_de_la_Seyne-sur-Mer
  • Structurae: Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer: http://fr.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0002985
  • eNotes: Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer: http://www.enotes.com/topic/Pont_basculant_de_la_Seyne-sur-Mer
Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer
Pont Basculant de la Seyne-sur-Mer
La Seyne-sur-Mer, 83500
France
43.102976, 5.878219
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Gare de la Ciotat

La Ciotat, France

miles away

Parc de Saint-Pons

Gémenos, France

miles away

Santons Maryse Di Landro

Aubagne, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 700
Stories 74

Nearby Places

Gare de la Ciotat

La Ciotat, France

miles away

Parc de Saint-Pons

Gémenos, France

miles away

Santons Maryse Di Landro

Aubagne, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 700
Stories 74

Related Places

  • The Hermit House.

    Herzliya, Israel

    The Hermit House

    This marvelous work of outsider architecture is built into the cliffs of an Israeli beach.

  • Exterior of Castle, with cemetery .

    Greenback, Tennessee

    Fortress of Faith (Greenback Castle)

    One man has spent decades faithfully constructing this unique brick and cinderblock castle.

  • Los Angeles, California

    Mosaic Tile House

    Rainbow-hued local gem in Venice.

  • La Maison Sculptée.

    Amanlis, France

    La Maison Sculptée

    An enchanting work of outsider art, full of whimsical sculptures and carvings.

  • Front entrance to the Whale House.

    Santa Barbara, California

    Whale House

    This stunning sea creature-shaped home blends into the landscape like a fantasy villa.

  • Castle Otttis

    St. Augustine, Florida

    Castle Otttis

    Two men built this castle on the Florida coast as an artistic “landscape sculpture.”

  • The church with its domed bell tower.

    Blantyre, Malawi

    Saint Michael and All Angels Church

    This amateur-built East African church with mismatched towers is an architectural abnormality.

  • The Kettle House in Galveston, Texas

    Galveston, Texas

    The Kettle House

    This tiny, hurricane-resistant house in Galveston is one of the city's most notable architectural oddities.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.