VINTAGE BRIDGES OF EUROPE

Throughout the years bridges have provided travelers with intriguing views, pleasant walks, and special memories. Most were built with the purpose of connecting places and to make life easier for everyone. They have also been a source of inspiration for artists including The Bridge in Monet's Garden (1895) by Claude Monet that was painted in Giverney, France.

My vintage bridge photos often bring back special memories of travels to Europe. Here are some favorites:

We discovered the picturesque Janez's Bridge (pictured above) when hiking around Lake Bohinj in the Julian Alps, Slovenia. The Church of St. Janez Krstnik sits at the end of the bridge. The popular Lake Bled is 17 miles away by bus.

The Castelvecchio Bridge, also called the Scaliger Bridge, connects Verona's medieval castle to the River Adige's left bank. Originally built in the 14^th century, it was totally destroyed during WW II and reconstructed in the 1950s. It is described by historian and author Valerio Manfredi as the most beautiful, most medieval, and most arched bridge of all time.

They often come with a story like the Bridge of Sighs (1600 AD.) in Venice, Italy, that connects a prison with the sentencing hall of Doge's Palace. Because of the prisoners' sadness, it was known as the Bridge of Sighs.

The Untere Schleuse Bridge (1788) is a covered wooden bridge in Thun, Switzerland. It also regulates water flow for the River Aare. The medieval city, situated on alpine Lake Thun is 19 miles southeast of Bern.

The Dom Luis I Bridge (1886) spans the River Duoro and connects the city of Porto, Portugal with the popular Port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia. The double-decker metal bridge was built to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians and the metro, offering spectacular views from all directions.

The Quiet Man Bridge from the classic 1952 movie starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara is located near Oughterard in Galway County, Ireland.

The bridge above was found among the ruins of the Roman Forum (7 BC) in Rome, Italy.

This bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia is loaded with “love locks.” For those who left the locks and tossed the keys, they probably won't be around when you return. Unfortunately, their weight has caused structural damage to the bridges and they are being removed.

Someday in the future, when the world is healthy again, I'm going to return to walk those old bridges of Europe again. It will be with a new appreciation for a connection to the world like never before.      

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--In addition to man-made bridges there are thousands of natural ones that are still being discovered. The Natural Arch & Bridge Society website is a great source of information.

--If interested, check out the Free Dictionary to discover how many meanings there are for the word “bridge.”

--What city in Europe has the most bridges? Hamburg, Germany.       I'm intrigued by the idea of another trip to Hamburg with the goal of walking across many of its 2,300 bridges—enjoying the canals, rivers, and streams along the way.  

Related Posts:  Bridges of Rome & the Tiber River 6/29/19                                                                             Bridges of Ljubljana (1/27/15)                                                                                                   Inspirational Walking Bridge (3/6/13)