Bridges are counted among the most spectacular works of art and hold a special place in the history of engineering. They are the answer to a central challenge in the history of mankind — mastering the land with a view to connecting people. Over vertiginous cliffs, steep gorges, rivers with devastating torrents. Bridges continue to fascinate because they symbolize the human genius in overcoming the obstacles of nature. Throughout the centuries, the necessity of developing means of transport coupled with the ambition of establishing new world records has been a driving force of progress, forcing the pioneers to break new ground. Three bridges, three eras, three records of civil engineering. The Pont du Gard, the viaduct of Garabit and the viaduct of Millau.

For the second time, the TGV, France’s high-speed train, is the fastest train of the world. Yet, its engineers are continuously pushing for even higher speeds, having launched the new TGV Ocean and the AGV, the TGV of the future. It all began back in the 1950s with the CC 7100 series and its electric locomotive, which was considerably lighter than any of its predecessors. This technological gem made history by breaking the world’s speed record for trains. As the electrification of rail traffic proved to be a success, more and more of the less powered steam locomotives were phased out. Since then, the successors of the original TGV have smashed all records for rail-bound traffic, culminating in 2007 with an incredible performance of 574 kilometres per hour.

Taming nature and putting its energy to the service of man…it’s a challenge which has been mastered thanks to the construction of hydro-electric barrages. Three exceptional dams have revolutionized the technique of barrage building and marked their era by engineering records: In 1960, the Barrage of Serre Ponçon was the first of a series of truly gigantic feats. At a height of more than 120 meters, its reservoir constitutes the greatest artificial lake in France. Yet, to achieve this, in the valley below, two villages had to be flooded. The Barrage of Romanche-Gavet was inaugurated only recently. Since 2020, it stands for technology without par. It replaces no less than five barrages while being virtually invisible.

To overcome oceans and mountains that separate us from our neighbors, engineers have pushed the limits of subterranean construction and dug tunnels which were thought impossible to achieve. We follow their feats by going back to the gigantic sites of three tunnel projects: through mountains and under sea. In 1871, the tunnel of Mont-Cenis was the first to pierce the Alps. Work was supposed to take up to 30 years, but a revolutionary machine turned the world of mining upside down. The pneumatic drill broke all records in tunneling. At its inauguration in 1994, the Euro tunnel was the longest under-sea tunnel of all times. Digging virtually three tunnels over 50 kilometers under the English Channel was, in fact, a triple feat. In 1871, the tunnel of Mont-Cenis was the first to pierce the Alps. Last, but not least, there is Mont Blanc Tunnel, completed in 1965 as the longest road tunnel of its time.

Canals are impressive masterpieces of human engineering. Join us for a closer look at three of the most well-known waterways of great historical and economic relevance. The first is Canal du Midi, built under Louis XIV, which provided Toulouse with access to the Mediterranean Sea some 200 kilometres away. Today, it is the oldest canal still in use in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The documentary also explores the Canal de Bourgogne, built at the end of the 18th century, which connected the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic. Finally, we explore the Grand Canal of Alsace, which was built over 100 years later and is mainly used to generate electricity. Explore the history and engineering behind these technological works of art in this fascinating documentary.

Millions of cars, thousands of kilometers covered every day, on a network across an entire country. French highways are among the most developed in the world. There's the A40, a dizzying feat that required construction work in extreme conditions. When first envisaged, the Paris Ring Road seemed almost a crazy adventure. How did the workers manage to cut a swathe around the inner city of Paris? Or to construct a bridge over the railroad tracks in the middle of the French capital? Not to speak of having the Ring Road pass under the Prince's Stadium. Then, there’s the A10, between Paris and Bordeaux. It holds the record as the longest highway in France, designed to cope with all kinds of weather. The A10, the A40 and the Paris Ring Road all set records and are stunning feats of civil engineering.

The Normandy Bridge, the Chaban Delmas Bridge in Bordeaux and the Ténérez Bridge in Brittany. Three emblematic structures that have broken records in France, Europe and even the world. In 1994, the main span of the Normandy Bridge beat the previous world record of the Nanpu Bridge in Shanghai by more than 250 meters. The Chaban Delmas Bridge in Bordeaux proposed a major challenge. Lifting its main span of 2,500 tons to a height of 47 meters. A feat that made it one of the highest lift bridges in Europe in 2013. The bridge of Ténérez, finished in 2011, is an exceptional work of its kind. In 2022, it still holds the title of the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Three bridges – there stunning achievements of civil engineering.

What drives scientists, inventors, and engi- neers to push the limits of what is possi- ble ? These innovators continually strive to design and develop technology, machines, and buildings that help us defy the chal- lenges of space and time. In new episodes of this captivating collec- tion, we discover incredible buildings, vehi- cles, and projects and provide viewers with fascinating insights into ground-breaking achievements in technology and engineering. Each episode focuses on a specifi c tech- nical achievement. Come with us on a journey across the Pont de Normandie, the largest cable-stayed bridge in Europe, across the vast tidal power station on the northern coast of Brittany, France, until we reach supersonic speed with the high- tech fi ghter aircraft, Dassault Rafale. Finally, dive silently with us into the ocean depths in the newest nuclear-powered submarine of the Barracuda class.

Today’s submarines are the pinnacle of technology, the most sophisticated constructions in shipbuilding ever. In 1971, the Redoutable entered active service, a 9,000-ton vessel able to dive to a depth of several hundred meters, carrying 16 ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads. The Suffren, coming out of the Cherbourg shipyards in 2022 is an under-sea predator, it doesn’t have nuclear warheads, yet its weapons arsenal is state of the art. Its task is to protect aircraft carriers and missile-carrying submarines of the French Navy’s Strategic Ocean Force. The Rubis, commissioned in 1933, is an unsung veteran of the Free French Navy during the Second World War. Between 1940 and 1944, it sank more ships than the entire French navy. So, let’s run silent and deep onboard three formidable submarines.

Today’s submarines are the pinnacle of technology, the most sophisticated constructions in shipbuilding ever. In 1971, the Redoutable entered active service, a 9,000-ton vessel able to dive to a depth of several hundred meters, carrying 16 ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads. The Suffren, coming out of the Cherbourg shipyards in 2022 is an under-sea predator, it doesn’t have nuclear warheads, yet its weapons arsenal is state of the art. Its task is to protect aircraft carriers and missile-carrying submarines of the French Navy’s Strategic Ocean Force. The Rubis, commissioned in 1933, is an unsung veteran of the Free French Navy during the Second World War. Between 1940 and 1944, it sank more ships than the entire French navy. So, let’s run silent and deep onboard three formidable submarines.

In this gripping documentary, we enter the yards of a European leader in naval defence, where giants of the seas have been designed, developed, and built for almost 400 years. We explore the next nuclear submarines that will glide almost silently through the oceans from 2035. For operations in a crisis zone, the Defence and Intervention Frigate (FDI) is a vessel that can respond to an attack by sending missiles in a tenth of a second. As uncrewed systems play an increasingly important role in naval combat, the French company developed a vessel that deploys an armada of drones, for example, to track and destroy mines. In 2038, an immense aircraft carrier will take to the seas, able to swiftly catapult several dozen fighter jets into the sky. Join us as one of the world’s most secretive companies opens its doors for the first time.

Waterparks have always been popular destinations, but recent technological advancements have raised the bar to new heights. With innovative technology and designs, some of the most thrilling and record-breaking attractions invite visitors to take the plunge. From Wave Island in Provence, France, where a 33-meter-high slide draws visitors from across Europe, to Rulantica on the Franco-German border, which boasts one of the world’s largest wave pools, and Vayres Torcy, a paradise for swimmers and kayakers alike due to the raging river that flows through the park. Waterparks takes the viewers into the heart of these developments and reveals that the success of these parks is not just due to their size or the thrill of the attractions, but also the use of advanced aquatic engineering using powerful pumps and wave-generating systems.

This programme digs beneath the streets of France’s capital to explore three extraordinary underground networks. The oldest, the catacombs, was created in response to the threatened collapse of ancient quarries under the city, as workers filled in cavities left by centuries of mining. In the late 18th century, human remains were relocated to the catacombs, creating an ossuary. Next, we investigate the sewage system that Paris began building over a century ago to improve sanitation, which is now a labyrinth of pipes almost 3,000 km long. Finally, we explore the Metro, which grew from one line in 1900 to become one of the densest subway systems worldwide, and now carries four million passengers a day. The catacombs, the sewage system, and the Metro – three massive projects that pushed the limits of underground construction

Offshore Megastructures showcases three remarkable construction projects in one of the most hostile environments – the sea. We take a look at an ambitious project in Monaco, where free building plots are rare, and an entire district of luxury homes is being constructed above the water. A thousand years previously, builders fought the tides and saltwater to complete the famous French landmark, Mont St Michel, off the shores of Normandy. Finally, we turn to the Atlantic and the Île de Ré bridge, which was completed in just 20 months - an unprecedented time frame - using a specially constructed horizontal crane to connect La Rochelle on the mainland to Île de Ré. This fascinating documentary explores the ingenuity and courage of the architects, engineers, and builders who created these exceptional offshore structures.

The Marine Nationale – the French Navy – is known not only for its fleet of ships and submarines but also for its exceptional range of aircraft with diverse and specialised roles. In this intriguing documentary, we take a closer look at three technological marvels, beginning with the Rafale Marine, which can land on an aircraft carrier in just a few minutes, and is equipped with air-to-sea missiles. Meanwhile, the Atlantique 2 is the size of an airliner, and can fly low over the water in pursuit of a submarine. The Falcon 50 is another iconic aircraft of the French Navy, a fast and agile jet designed for reconnaissance and rescue missions. Together, these three aircraft represent the technological advancements and strategic capabilities of the French Navy

Fortified castles are engineering masterpieces designed to withstand the bloodiest battles. The impregnable Beynac Castle stands on the side of a cliff, with its traps and other defensive devices. In Brittany, Fougères Castle has walls 7 metres thick. While in Marseille, the last castle built on a rock is armed with cannons to destroy enemy ships.