Doesn’t that entrance to the tunnel de Saint-Jeannet look mysterious? This tunnel whispers tales of a bygone era. It speaks of a railway that once breathed life into this region.
The tunnel de Saint-Jeannet is a relic of the Chemin de fer du Sud de la France. This railway overcame natural obstacles to bring progress in 1892. The Compagnie des Chemins de fer du Sud de la France built the Grasse-Nice section of the Nice-Meyrargues line. Saint-Jeannet gained a station in the Mas district because of this.
The location of the station was not ideal. It sat over 150 meters below the main settlement. It was 261 meters above sea level. A different route via Peyron could have avoided two long tunnels. One was the 860-meter Billoire tunnel. The other was a 170-meter tunnel. This shorter tunnel preceded the Cagne viaduct. The tunnel de Saint-Jeannet is that 170 meter long tunnel.
The railway boosted the local economy. It helped transport produce to coastal cities like Nice. The Saint-Jeannet municipal council wasn’t happy. They protested the station’s location. It was two kilometers from the village. They wanted the line to cross the Var further north at Peyron. This would have avoided the Billoire tunnel.
La Gaude also wanted a direct Vence-Cagnes route. Military authorities rejected this. They deemed the line strategically important. They couldn’t risk it being vulnerable to enemy fleets. The Grasse-Nice section opened in 1892. Saint-Jeannet benefited greatly. It was now just three kilometers from a railway. Digne and Draguignan were now only a half-day away.
During the German retreat in 1944, the railway played a role. On August 27th, the first American jeep crossed the Cagne. It used the railway bridge that remained intact. However, the Germans destroyed parts of the line. On August 24th, 1944, they destroyed the Loup and Pascaressa viaducts.
At the tunnel de Saint-Jeannet you can see how a water source was diverted during construction. Water flows along the trenches. The humidity fosters lush plant growth.
The tunnel de Saint-Jeannet was also known as the Champignonnière tunnel. For a time, it housed a mushroom farm. The exit of the tunnel de Saint-Jeannet is bricked up.
As you stand here at the tunnel de Saint-Jeannet, imagine the trains. Picture them chugging along this route. Hear the steam locomotive. Think of the goods and people they carried. This tunnel symbolizes progress and resilience. It connects us to a rich past.