Bridges are necessary because they provide a connection between two coasts, as well as occasionally between two cultures, regions, or cities. They move people, vehicles, food, and water. European bridges are occasional pieces of art, and we’ve chosen the prettiest ones for you.
1. The Old Bridge, Mostar – Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Stari Most (English: Old Bridge) is a replica of a 16th-century Ottoman bridge that spans the Neretva River in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and links two sections of the city. During the Croat-Bosniak War, on November 9, 1993, Croat soldiers destroyed the Old Bridge after it had stood for 427 years. A reconstruction effort was then started, and on July 23, 2004, the new bridge was inaugurated.
It is regarded as one of the most outstanding examples of Islamic architecture in the Balkans and is one of the nation’s most well-known landmarks. It was created by Mimar Hayruddin.
2. The Pont du Gard Bridge, Gard – France
A historic Roman aqueduct bridge known as the Pont du Gard spans the Gardon River in Vers-Pont-du-Gard, close to Remoulins, in the Gard département in southern France. It is a component of the Roman-built Nîmes Aqueduct, a 50 km (31 mi) long pipe used to transport water from a spring in Uzès to the Nemausus (Nîmes) Roman colony.
Because of the mountainous terrain between the two places, the aqueduct—which was primarily built underground—took a long, twisting path and traversed the Gardon Gorge, necessitating the creation of an aqueduct bridge.
The Pont du Gard was built in the first century AD and, together with the Aqueduct of Segovia, is one of the best-preserved Roman aqueduct bridges. Its historical significance led to its inclusion on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1985.
3. The Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan – West Highland – Scotland
Hogwarts Express, commonly known as the “Jacobite Steam Train,” the Harry Potter train, is waiting for you. Find out where J.K. Rowling found her inspiration for one of the most amazing literary sagas.
Several locations from the Harry Potter films will be shown, along with the Hogwarts Express steam locomotive and the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Your transportation to Fort William Station from Edinburgh is included in this excursion.
4. The Tower Bridge, London, UK
Bascule and suspension bridge Tower Bridge spans the River Thames in London and was constructed between 1886 and 1894. Its name comes from the Tower of London, from which it derives, and it is a well-known emblem of London.
5. The Ponte Vecchio, Florence – Italy
The Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”) is a Medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge across the Arno River in Florence, Italy. It is notable for having businesses still built along it, as was once typical. Originally, butchers, the stores are now home to jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir vendors. The Ponte alle Grazie and the Ponte Santa Trinita are the two bridges that border the Ponte Vecchio.
6. The Bastei Bridge, Lohmen – Germany
In Germany’s Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a rocky feature known as The Bastei soars 194 meters above the Elbe River. The Bastei’s ragged cliffs, which rise 305 meters above sea level, were created over a million years ago by water erosion. They serve as the primary landmark of the Saxon Switzerland National Park and are located close to Rathen, not far from Pirna, and southeast of Dresden.
Over 200 years ago, the Bastei became a popular tourist destination. A wooden bridge was built in 1824 to connect numerous rocks for visitors. The current Bastei Bridge, constructed of sandstone, took the place of this bridge in 1851.
7. The Chain Bridge, Budapest – Hungary
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Buda and Pest, the western and eastern parts of Budapest, the capital of Hungary, across the River Danube. It was built by English engineer William Tierney Clark and opened in 1849 as Hungary’s first permanent bridge over the Danube.
8. The Rialto Bridge, Venice – Italy
One of the four bridges crossing Venice, Italy’s Grand Canal, is the Rialto Bridge, or Ponte di Rialto. It is the oldest bridge over the canal and serves as a boundary between the San Marco and San Polo neighborhoods.
9. The Chapel Bridge, Lucerne – Switzerland
Built during the first half of the 14th century as a part of the city’s defenses and called for the neighboring St. Peter’s Chapel. The 17th-century additions of paintings depict historical events in Switzerland and the area, as well as the lives of the city’s patron saints, St. Leodegar and St. Maurice.
10. The Puente Nuevo Bridge, Ronda – Spain
Together with the bullring of the Royal Cavalry Order of Ronda, the New Bridge serves as the city’s emblem and soul. To build this bridge, two excellent ideas were combined. King Philip V, a 35-meter-diameter arch, was the first one to be imagined in 1735. Its construction took just eight months to complete.
