Old bridges of the world. Ancient bridges of China. old bridge bosnia

On March 29, 1998, the Vasco da Gama bridge over the Tagus River was opened in Portugal. This bridge, bearing the name of the Portuguese navigator, became the longest in Europe, stretching for 17.2 km. He has not lost his title to this day.

Milvian Bridge (Ponte Milvio) - a bridge over the Tiber River connecting Rome and Rimini. The mention of a wooden bridge at this place dates back to 207 BC. e., the stone one was built a century later. Since its foundation, the bridge has become an important military point. Roman legionnaires trained there, and generals gathered troops for the defense of the city or aggressive campaigns. Those who intended to conquer Rome camped near the bridge. Gaius Julius Caesar, who crossed the Rubicon, and Charlemagne, who went to Rome to revive the empire, once crossed the Milvian Bridge. For a long time, the bridge was part of the transport interchanges in Italy, but in 1956 it was declared a monument of antiquity. Now it is open only for pedestrians.

Ponte Vecchio (it. - “old bridge”) is a bridge over the Arno River and one of the symbols of Florence. On both sides of the bridge are crowded with houses in which shops have settled. Trade in this place for several centuries. Initially, there were shops with meat and leather goods. But because of the smell and the abundance of garbage, they were soon replaced by jewelers' shops. The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in the city. The first bridge on this site was built in the ancient Roman era. It took its present form in 1345. It is also the only bridge in Florence that remained intact during World War II.

The Chapel Bridge in the Swiss city of Lucerne is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. It was built in 1365 as a defensive corridor connecting fortifications on different banks of the Reuss River. Next to the bridge is the octagonal Wasserturm tower, which served as a watchtower, dungeon and torture chamber. Under the roof of the bridge, one could initially see 111 triangular paintings reflecting the most important events in the history of Switzerland. Now there are fewer paintings, and these are mostly restored images: 78 originals were destroyed by a fire in 1993.

Charles Bridge is a bridge across the Vltava River in Prague, opened in 1380 and called Prague for five centuries. According to legend, the first stone of the bridge was laid by Charles IV himself on July 9, 1357 at 5:31 am. Astrologers advised him to choose the time and date: the combination year-day-month-hours-minutes is a palindrome of 1357-9-7531. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that a bridge laid at such a moment would last for centuries. Indeed, the Charles Bridge survived all the floods and cataclysms. Another legend says that it was from this bridge that St. John of Nepomuk was thrown in a sack, who did not want to give the king the secret of the queen's confession. At the same time, eyewitnesses claimed that they saw a glow in the form of five stars above the place where the body was immersed in water. Since then, the saint has been depicted with five stars above his head. There is also a belief that if you touch one of the 30 sculptures of the bridge and make a wish, it will come true.

The Blue Bridge across the Moika River in St. Petersburg connects St. Isaac's Square with Antonenko Lane and Voznesensky Prospekt. Due to the record width (97.3 m), this bridge is often perceived as part of the square, and in the literature you can even come across the term “bridge-square”. The name "Blue" comes from the color of the wooden drawbridge built in 1737 on this site. A little later, stone supports were added to it, in 1818 they made it of cast iron, and in 1842 it was completely rebuilt. In this form, the bridge has survived to this day.

Everyone who studies English and has reached the topic “Sights of London” will definitely see a photograph of Tower Bridge in the textbook. This is a drawbridge over the Thames, built in 1894. Its two thousand-ton wings can rise almost to a vertical position - at an angle of 83º. Above the wings at a height of 44 m there are galleries, which can be reached by stairs inside the towers. These galleries were created so that pedestrians could cross the river even while the bridge was being raised. However, very soon pickpockets began to actively hunt there. For this reason, the galleries were closed in 1910. They reopened only in 1982, already as a museum and an observation deck.

The city of Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, due to heavy river and road traffic, needed a bridge that could rise and fall quickly without creating congestion. So in 2000, the original Slauerhof drawbridge made of iron and steel appeared over the Harlinger River. It is named after the 20th-century Dutch poet and novelist Jan Slauerhof, who was born in Leeuwarden. The square platform of the bridge, measuring only 15×15 m, is raised and lowered 10 times a day using hydraulic forces. The upper part of the platform is part of the motorway, while the lower part is painted yellow and blue, the colors of Leeuwarden.

Since 2001, the creators of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in the UK have received a total of more than 30 awards for architectural and engineering solutions, five of which are for the night illumination design solution. The bridge is also depicted on the 1 pound coin. The structure consists of two arches connected by cables. One of them is a footpath under which small boats can pass. The second at the peak reaches a height of about 50 m. To let a large vessel through, the arches turn 40º around their axis, with one (pedestrian) rising and the other falling. This turn is called "winking eye". It repeats about 2000 times a year.

The Magdeburg "water crossing" in Germany connects the Elbe-Havel Canal with the Central German Canal, passing over the Elbe River at a height of 90 meters. Prior to the opening of this water bridge in 2003, ships had to make a 12 km detour through other locks. The main part of the bridge is a metal navigable chute lined with reinforced concrete, 32 m wide and 4 m deep. This chute is combined with a 10 m wide pedestrian walkway. The aqueduct stretches for 918 m and is the longest not only in Europe, but also in the world.

Built in 2004 in France, the Millau Viaduct (Bridge Above the Clouds) was considered the highest bridge in the world for almost a decade. It is made in the form of a semicircle with a radius of 20 km and a length of 2560 m. The bridge consists of eight spans and seven concrete pillars. Its roadbed is raised 270 m above the ground, and one of the towers reaches a peak of 341 m. This is higher than the Eiffel Tower and only 40 m below the Empire State Building in New York. The Aizhai Extra Large Suspension Bridge opened in 2012, 355 m high, in China, pressed the record holder.

The Trift Bridge was built by an energy company to carry out installation work in the vicinity of the Trift Glacier in 2004. Five years later, it was reconstructed, strengthening the steel rope system, and opened to the public. The bridge is located on Mount Titlis at an altitude of 3041 m, it is about 100 m long and only 1 m wide. When walking, the bridge sways a little, which adds to the thrill. The designers claim that it is impossible to fall from the Trift Bridge, since it is able to withstand wind gusts up to 200 km/h and a mass of snow up to 500 tons. But, just in case, they open it only in calm weather.

The Rolling Bridge in London is a footbridge 12 meters long. True, six days a week it is an octagon of wood and steel. Every Friday since 2005, the bridge has been turned around by hydraulic pistons built into the railing. The mechanism resembles a caterpillar, which, according to architect Thomas Heatherwick, inspired him to create the bridge.

This honorary title is held by the Picturesque Bridge in the north-west of Moscow, opened in 2007. Unlike most bridges, it crosses the Moscow River at an acute angle, that is, it is located mainly along the river. The design of the bridge has no analogues: the road part is suspended on shrouds (steel cables) to a huge red arch. Its height is 105 m. A glazed observation deck in the form of an ellipsoid hangs on top of the arch. Initially, it was planned to open a restaurant in this ellipsoid, but the idea was abandoned. To prevent the glass of the observation deck from being covered with snow and ice, they were equipped with an electric heating system. You can get to the top by a special lift from the gallery at the base of the bridge.

The Moses Bridge, opened in 2011 in the Dutch city of Halsteren, is a trench bridge whose pedestrian deck is below the water level. The idea of the bridge echoes the biblical story about the prophet Moses, before whom the waters of the Red Sea parted. This bridge was built during the reconstruction of Fort Roovere, part of the 17th century Brabant line of structures that protected Holland from invasion from France and Spain. At that time, some cities and villages were connected and fortified with ramparts, the land behind which was flooded. In the 19th century, these structures became memorial zones - tourist routes organically inscribed in the local landscape that retained their original purpose. The bridge is made of specially treated and water-resistant wood. Moreover, on both sides of the moat there are additional shafts that divert excess water. Therefore, the water level in the ditch remains unchanged, and the bridge itself does not get wet during rain.

One of the sights of the Dutch city of Eindhoven is the Hovenring round revolving bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It was opened in 2012 to cope with the increased traffic at the intersection, and so far has no analogues in the world. The diameter of the bridge is 72 meters. In its middle is a 70-meter support, from which 24 steel ropes extend to the bridge. The engine is located there. Since Eindhoven is positioned as a city of light, the designers also took care of lighting the bridge: LEDs are built into the cycle ring, railings, ropes and central support.

Bridges are unusually attractive creations. Each bridge has its own character and history. Some, of course, are not so large-scale and mean something only for the surrounding residents. But there are bridges that have firmly gone down in history. We can talk about bridges endlessly, therefore we can only show some of the endless variety of these almost living creatures.

We start our journey in France. The need to build a bridge in Paris became clear in the middle of the 16th century. The structures that existed at that time, already under the influence of active traffic, became decrepit and required replacement. At the same time, it was customary to set up craft workshops and trading shops on the bridges, there were money changers, jewelers, and furniture was forged (the best examples of which can still be found today). The New Bridge was first talked about in 1556, construction began in 1578, and completed in 1607. The main difference was that it was the first bridge with sidewalks and there were no shops or houses on it. By the way, it was this idea of the builder kings that caused the greatest resistance among the merchants.

2. Le Viaduc de Millau

The Tarn River cuts through France from east to west. With the growth of the population, the flow in the south-north direction also increased every year, especially in summer along the highway leading to Spain and Southern France. The only crossing over the Tarno was a bridge in the suburb of Millau. Huge congestion, exhaust pipe emissions - no one got pleasure. And after 10 years of research, a place was chosen for construction and a cable-stayed bridge over the Tarn was armed. This object broke several records at once. First of all, it is the owner of the highest roadway (270 m), the viaduct has the highest supports (244.91 m) and supports with pylons (343 m). in addition, this bridge is simply beautiful, its railings are made of translucent materials, which allows passers-by to enjoy the picturesque views of the Tarn valley.

Prague's Charles Bridge connected Mala Strana and Star Mesto at the beginning of the 15th century. Construction began in 1357 by order of the Emperor Charles IV. There are 30 sculptures on this unique bridge. There is an interesting belief that Saint John of Nepomut was thrown from the Charles Bridge. There is now a cross and a couple of copper nails in the exact spot. According to legend, if they touch the cross, then any wish made will come true.

This bridge is difficult to confuse with any other. Tower Bridge was built in just eight years (1886-1894). The carriageway of the bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass. But a suspension bridge was built on top at a height of 40 m for pedestrians. True, pickpockets and prostitutes quickly settled in these galleries, and after 25 years, the authorities closed access to this part of the bridge. Now (since 1982) the galleries are again available to the public as a museum and observation deck. Another interesting point is related to the support towers. In fact, these are metal structures. But outside, to protect against corrosion, they were lined with stone, as a result, the bridge took on such a solid Gothic look.

5. Szechenyi lanchid

The Szechenyi Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge to connect Pest and Buda. At the time of completion of construction in 1849, it was considered one of the wonders of the world - the bridge had the longest span of 202 m. During the war, the bridge was completely destroyed, and in 1949 it was recreated again. There are many legends and anecdotes associated with the bridge. Stone lions at the entrance to the bridge are especially loved by the inhabitants of Budapest. It was said that they do not have tongues, although they are simply not visible from below due to the high location of the animals. They also say that lions should roar at the moment when a man passes by them, who has never cheated on his wife. What is significant - until now the lions are silent ...

6. Ponte di Rialto

We continue our journey across the bridges in Italy. Here they know how to handle their history and know what to do even with outdated buildings, as in the article. Our first stop in Venice is on the very first bridge over the Grand Canal. The first time this bridge was built of wood in 1255, but during the uprising it was burned down in 1310. The bridge was restored, but in 1444 it could not withstand the weight of the crowd and collapsed, then there was a draw option, which also did not survive. And since 1591, the bridge acquired its present form in the hands of the architect Antonio de Ponte. There are 24 shops with the most expensive Venetian souvenirs on the Rialto Bridge.

7. Ponte dei Sospiri

The equally famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice is a covered structure with a roof and walls. At the beginning of the 17th century, he connected the prison and the Doge's Palace with an interrogation room and a courtroom. The name was formed from the suffering of prisoners who could see their hometown for the last time from the windows of the bridge on the way to prison. Now it is believed that if lovers swim under the bridge at sunset and kiss, then their passion will be eternal.

8. Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio in Florence has ancient predecessors. At this place, the first bridge was built back in the days of Ancient Rome, then there were 2 more bridges, until this building was built in 1345. To this day, the bridge retains its original shape. By the way, once there were shops and houses of butchers on the bridge, which were replaced by jewelers in the 16th century. Another interesting detail is the corridor above the buildings, which allowed the Grand Dukes to freely pass between their residences: the Pitti Palace and the Vecchio Palace.

In just 9 years, Suleiman the Magnificent built this bridge in Mostar across the Neretva. 420 years have passed since the Ottoman occupation - and the bridge was still standing. It was destroyed only in 1993, during the Yugoslav conflict. In 2004, the bridge was restored and became a symbol of reconciliation.

10 Chapel Bridge

In Swiss Lucerne, the hallmark is the Chapel Bridge. Back in 1365, this wooden bridge was erected, which played a significant role in the city's defensive system. The chapel was made in the form of a covered gallery, under the roof of which there were 111 triangular paintings. After the fire in 1993, most of them died, but then they were restored according to the available inventories and photos.

11. Angel Saligned Bridge

Cernavoda-Fetesti was built in Romania in 1895. At the time of construction, he held a record for length - 4037 m. The bridge rises 30 m above the waters of the Danube and makes it possible for any ships to pass under it. In 1987, a new bridge was built nearby, and the old one was completely given over to tourists.

The Erasmus Bridge was built in 1996 in Rotterdam. The design is modern and very unusual. The cable-stayed bridge has a length of 808 m, at one end there is a drawbridge (the heaviest and largest in Western Europe). For its characteristic silhouette, the bridge was named Lebed.
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The construction of bridges in Rus' began a very long time ago. The oldest of them, due to the abundance of forests, were cut from wood. The first bridges were simply trees thrown from coast to coast (Fig. 209). With the growth and strengthening of the Kievan state and the growth of cities at the end of the 10th century, building art was also improved.

The extraordinary skill of Russian carpenters attracted the attention of foreign travelers. Jean Sauvage Diepsky, who visited Rus', notes: “The fence of Arkhangelsk is a castle built of pointed and cross logs; its construction of logs is excellent; there are no nails or hooks, but everything is so well finished that there is nothing to blaspheme, although the Russian builders have all the tools in the same axes; but no architect will do better than they did.”

In "Russian Truth" (1020) there is a special article "about bridgemen". In the army of Yarosdav the Wise (1019-1054) there was a special class of military builders who were called "city dwellers" - builders of fortresses, "bridgemen" - builders of bridges and crossings and "perverse masters" who arranged various kinds of machines (vices) for the siege of fortresses . Under their supervision were workers: "carpenters, woodworkers, hirelings, businessmen." Thus, already at the beginning of the 11th century, Rus' had skilled craftsmen - specialists in various fields of construction. The most common type of bridges on large rivers were floating, the so-called "living" bridges, which consisted of a number of rafts, boats or barges that supported the flooring. A similar floating bridge across the Dnieper in Kyiv was built under Vladimir Monomakh in 1115. For that time, this bridge was a remarkable engineering structure.

Novgorodians have long been famous for their skill as "woodworkers", whose artistic taste and skill are evidenced by examples of the remarkable skill of their successors preserved in the north. The famous bridge over the Volkhov River - the place where the disputes of the Novgorodians were settled (Fig. 210) - had supports in the form of log cabins, a gorodny with an upper through part. A log flooring (Fig. 211) of the canvas rested on it.

The span adjoining the city wall was usually made lifting and was called an erect bridge. The first annalistic indication of the construction of drawbridges dates back to 1229. Their lifting mechanism consisted of a rocker arm rotating between pillars (zheravtsy) and chains.

Ravines and small rivers were often blocked by a double or triple row of through log walls - fences connected by transverse rows of logs (Fig. 212).

Such a design existed at the end of the 18th century on the Arkhangelsk tract, which is reflected in the drawings. On the low-water channel for the free passage of water, there were holes, often to the full height of the fence, and a bridge was obtained, the abutments of which represented a two- or three-row through wall. Spring waters passed into the shared horizontal slots between adjacent rows of logs. The next step was bridges with ribbed supports made of solid walls, which were filled with stone or earth. One of the surviving bridges of this type is shown in fig. 213, 214. It is located on the river. Kene near the village of Ovchinkonets (Fyodorovskoye). To reduce the span, short pieces in the form of consoles were produced from the row. One of the bridges with such outlets (Fig. 215) has been preserved in the Caucasus along the Sukhumi road.

The Tatar invasion delayed the development of Russian engineering and, in particular, the construction of bridges.

The only exceptions were Novgorod and Pskov, which were not directly affected by the invasion of the Tatar hordes. In the XV-XVI centuries, the Pskov rozmysl were especially famous in Rus', which also worked in other cities.

During the period of strengthening of the Moscow principality, during the process of unification of the Russian state, the construction of bridges was also revived.

Bridges played a significant role in military operations. Under Dmitry Donskoy, during the siege of Tver, a bridge was built across the Volga, and during the war with the Tatars, across the Don (1380). More than once such bridges were built in Novgorod. During the fight against Moscow, a wooden floating wall was built here on the Volkhov (1477). It is known that during the campaign of Ivan III he also built a floating bridge near Novgorod. The first wooden bridges of Moscow were also “alive”: Moskvoretsky, Krymsky and others (Fig. 216).

Notes

1. In the Novgorod chronicle it is said in one place: “The same autumn (1335) brought ice and snow into the Volkhov and above the city of the great bridge.”

2. The bridge was measured in 1946 by arch. Opolovnikov and Zabello, to whom the above drawings belong. The dam built in 1528 by the Ignorant Pskovityanin across the Volkhov in Novgorod was just of this type with ridges thrown with stone.

3. Builders at that time were called "reasons", "ward masters", "city thinkers", etc.

Girsu Bridge - the oldest bridge in the world

This megalithic structure, which is at least 4 thousand years old, for a long time, after its discovery, was identified either by a temple, or by a dam, or by something else, and only quite recently, scientists clearly determined that the ancient Sumerian city of Girsu simply had such a brick bridge through the waterway, which, of course, has not survived to this day.

We add that the city of Girsu itself is considered the most ancient in the history of mankind. It is located between the modern cities of Iraq - Basra and Baghdad. Girsu was the capital of the same ancient kingdom of Lagash, was considered a sacred metropolis, built about 5 thousand years ago in honor of the Sumerian god Ningirsu. Moreover, when the political power of the state subsequently moved to the city of Lagash, Girsu continued to be a universally recognized religious center.

It was the city of Girsu that gave us knowledge about the ancient Sumerian civilization, as well as unique monuments of Sumerian architecture, including this ancient brick bridge, which was discovered in 1920 (we will clarify that the city of Girsu itself was discovered by French archaeologists in 1877).

Unfortunately, for almost a century, the ancient Girsu bridge was practically accessible to everyone and everyone, it was not at all protected as the greatest architectural landmark, and therefore it simply collapsed.

True, today the ancient settlement of Girsu (modern Tello) is used and accordingly protected by the British Museum, on the basis of which Iraqi archaeologists are trained here. Recently, the museum staff announced that the restoration of the oldest bridge in the world Girsu is planned as part of the training program. Well, that's encouraging and encouraging...

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