FOURCHAMBAULT

fourchambault, a town of central france in the department of nievre, on the right bank of the loire, 4-1/2 m. n.w. of nevers, on the paris-lyon railway. pop. (1906) 4591. it owes its importance to its extensive iron-works, established in 1821, which give employment to 2000 workmen and produce engineering material for railway, military and other purposes. among the more remarkable _chefs-d'oeuvre_ which have been produced at fourchambault are the metal portions of the pont du carrousel, the iron beams of the roof of the cathedral at chartres, and the vast spans of the bridge over the dordogne at cubzac. a small canal unites the works to the lateral canal of the loire.