Find a tour
Bridges are surrounded by a halo of romance. And the most beautiful of them become not only important transportation arteries, but also full-fledged symbols of cities. In this article we have collected 10 most beautiful and unusual bridges in the world, which are worth seeing at least once.
Charles Bridge
Where is it located: Prague, Czech Republic
Must-visit for first-time travelers to the capital of the Czech Republic. The 516-meter bridge connects the two banks of the Vltava River. It was built in the early 15th century and was first called the Stone Bridge or Prague Bridge. The Charles Bridge Bridge became the Charles in 1870 – it was named so in honor of King Charles IV, by whose decree the structure was erected.
The bridge is decorated with more than 30 sculptures. Each of them has an interesting story to tell: for example, the statue of the knight Brunswick was an object of adoration for the poet M. I. Tsvetaeva. She dedicated an entire poem to the sculpture and called it her “guardian angel”.
There is an interesting legend connected with the bridge. According to legend, one of its arches was constantly collapsing, and after another unsuccessful repair, an unclean man came to the builder. He offered the architect a deal: the structure would stand forever, but in return the devil would take the soul of the first person to pass through. The architect managed to outwit Satan: after the arch was rebuilt, he let a black rooster walk across the bridge, and instead of a human soul, the evil one was forced to take the bird.
If you want to take a photo from a height, climb the Old Town Tower. It is considered to be the best view not only of the bridge, but also of the old parts of the city, such as Prague Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in the world.
Tower Bridge
Where is it located: London, United Kingdom
It is located close to Tower Castle. At first glance, the bridge appears to be a single structure, but it is actually a drawbridge. The two spans rise in different directions to allow ships traveling on the Thames to pass.
The bridge took eight years to build: the first stone was laid in 1886, and the work was completed by 1894. The structure consists of two parts. The lower (drawbridge) is intended for automobile traffic and pedestrians, while the upper gallery is exclusively pedestrian. It is definitely worth walking along it – in 2014 a section with a glass floor was equipped here, so you can look not only at the Thames, but also at some of the sights of London from an unusual angle.
The main decoration of the famous Tower Bridge are the Gothic towers with pointed roofs. There is a museum dedicated to the history of the structure. For example, one of the towers exhibits ancient steam engines that used to lift the bridge spans.
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous and beautiful bridges in the world, it even has its own website with the current time of the spans’ drawdown. There you can also buy tickets to visit the museum’s observation deck.
Golden Gate Bridge
Where is it located: San Francisco, USA
It has long become an unofficial symbol of America, and to see it, many travelers specially come to California. The bridge was built in 1937 to connect the San Francisco peninsula with the mainland. At the time of opening, the Golden Gate was recognized as the largest suspension bridge in the world: the length of the hanging part of the structure was almost two kilometers, and the maximum height above the water – about 67 meters. However, in 1964 this title was passed to New York’s Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
The name “Golden Gate” was not chosen by chance. The bridge connects the banks of the strait, which in the XIX century one American topographer compared to the Golden Horn in IstanbulBay . It is this resemblance that is immortalized in the name. The choice of an unusual orange-red color in the design of the structure is not accidental. However, in this case the reason is purely utilitarian: the paint contains lead components that protect the metal from corrosion.
Ruyi Bridge
Where is it located: Zhejiang, China
It is believed that the shape and name of the bridge were chosen for a reason. The design echoes the appearance of the Buddhist Juyi scepter, a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Therefore, many people come here not just for the impressive photos and stunning views, but also in search of positive changes in their lives.
The bridge was opened in 2020 in Zhejiang Province, the center of which is Hangzhou. It is erected at a height of 140 meters in the form of two intersecting arcs that form two levels. Most of the surface of the bridge is made of tempered and fully transparent glass, so walking across it is not for the faint-hearted!
Henderson waves
Where is it located: Singapore
From afar, the structure resembles a huge snake that coils around powerful concrete piers. The bridge was opened in 2008, connecting two large city parks: Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill. “Henderson’s Waves” the structure was named because of its shape and location: a steel frame more than 250 meters long remotely resembles a sea wave, and the bridge is laid over the highway Henderson Road.
The interior of the structure is paneled with yellow balau wood, which is highly tolerant of Singapore’s heat and humidity. The 36-meter-high bridge has seven cozy niches with wooden benches for resting. From here you can enjoy a stunning view of the city harbor and Singapore’s famous futuristic buildings. The Henderson Wave Bridge looks particularly impressive in the evening when the entire length of the structure is illuminated.
Moonlight Fountain Bridge
Where is it located: Seoul, South Korea
At first glance, this is a completely ordinary automobile bridge. But everything changes when powerful jets of water with bright illumination start beating on both sides to music. The compositions vary from songs by The Beatles to soundtracks from the TV series “The Squid Game”. Water is pumped directly from the Hangang River, over which the bridge is laid. For the fountain to run smoothly, 38 pumps lift about 190 tons of water every minute.
Alexander III Bridge
Where is it located: Paris, France
Its construction began in 1896 and was completed in early 1900. On one side of the arches of the structure is decorated with the figure of the Seine nymph, and on the other side – the Russian coat of arms and a sculpture of the Neva nymph.
With its rich and elegant decoration, the Alexander III Bridge invariably attracts thousands of travelers. In addition to the coats of arms of the two countries, it is decorated with figures of mythical pegasi (winged horses), cupids and nymphs.
There are openwork lanterns along its entire length, in the soft light of which the bridge looks especially romantic. If you look closely, you can see coats of arms and various allegorical images on the lampposts, such as a bas-relief of a Gallic rooster – one of the symbols of France – and a monogram with the emblem of the French Republic.
Ponte Vecchio Bridge
Where is it located: Florence, Italy
A unique “residential” bridge that looks more like a small city block. It was erected in 1117, after which it was completely rebuilt several times due to floods and fires.
Ponte Vecchio is literally covered with buildings. “The bridge was built in the XV century, when butchers were obliged to move their shops here. So the authorities of Florence fought for cleanliness: from now on, traders had to dump their waste directly into the Arno River, so as not to pollute the streets. Gradually, the butchers began to build their shops right up to the bridge, and so it grew with houses overhanging the water.
Nowadays, the Ponte Vecchio is one of Florence’s top attractions. However, instead of butchers’ stores, today there are stores of jewelry and local craftsmen.
Skybridge
Where is located: Sochi, Russia
The longest Russian suspension pedestrian bridge, stretching over the Akhshtyrsky Gorge for 439 meters. Architects from Russia and New Zealand worked on the Skybridge project. The structure is very strong: Skybridge can withstand a 9-point earthquake.
The bridge is located at a height of 207 meters. There are a number of playgrounds and amusement rides on the bridge: you can, for example, jump off the bridge with a safety harness. You can walk along Skybridge and catch an adrenaline wave at any time of the year, either on your own or during a guided tour.
Kapellbrücke Bridge
Where is it located: Lucerne, Switzerland
It is sometimes called a “history book” or an “open-air art gallery”. The wooden Kapellbrücke Bridge over the River Reuss connects the old and new parts of the Swiss city of Lucerne. The structure consists of two parts, which are separated by the octagonal Wasserturm tower. Today it houses a souvenir shop.
The bridge was built in 1365. The original structure has not survived to this day: most of it was destroyed in a fire in 1993 and was rebuilt according to the old design by 1994. The main attraction of the Kapellbrücke is more than 100 paintings from the 17th century under the roof of the bridge. They depict scenes from the lives of the patrons of the city: Saints Leodegar and Mauricius. Each painting is accompanied by a poem in German explaining the essence of the image.
The Kappelbrücke offers an excellent view of the city center, which is why people often come here during tours of Lucerne: to admire the panorama of the river Reuss and to see the city’s sights. For example, the 17th-century Jesuit Church, which offers a beautiful view.
