The Amazing Bridges of Europe

England

The Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge spanning over the River Thames. It has become an iconic symbol of the capital city of England, London. The bridge has two towers and a high-level walkway between them.

France

Pont de Rohan is one of the last remaining inhabited bridges. It is an amazing bridge that crosses over the Elorn River connecting Leon and Cornwall in Brittany in France. The bridge is located in the town of Landerneau,

The original bridge was built in 1336 and later rebuilt in 1510 by Jean Il de Rohan and it celebrated its 500th birthday in 2010. The town of Landerneau is home to the famous folk festival held in July known as Kann Al Loar.

The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge spanning the valley of the River Tam in southern France. It’s the tallest vehicular bridge in the world. This bridge has been ranked as one of the great engineering achievements of all time. It received the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Outstanding Structure Award in 2006.

Germany

The Bastei Bridge rises over the River Elbe. It is located in the German state of Saxony. The bridge is part of rock formations that resulted from million-year-old water erosion. It is a bridge made of sandstone and has been a tourist attraction for over 200 years. It is accessible from the city of Dresden, Germany.

Switzerland

The Kapelbrucke Bridge literally means "Chapel Bridge." It is a covered wooden footbridge that spans across the Reuss Rivier in Lucerne, Switzerland and is the symbol of the city. It has become one of the main tourist attractions in Switzerland.

It was named after the St, Peter's Chapel. This bridge is unique in that in its interior were paintings dating back to the 17th century which unfortunately were destroyed by a fire in 1993. The Kapelbrucke Bridge was restored and is the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe as well as the world's oldest surviving truss bridge.

Hungary

The Szechenyl Chain Bridge has decorations made of cast iron It became a symbol of advancement, national awakening and the linkage between East and West Europe. The bridge stretches across the Danube River in the capital city of Hungary, Budapest.

The Czech Republic

The Charles Bridge is one of the most iconic attractions in the capital of The Czech Republic, Prague. The lovely historic sandstone bridge spans the Vitava River connecting the Old Town of Prague to its castle.

Bosnia and Hercogovina

Stari Most is a 16th century Ottoman Bridge crossing the Neretva River in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It connects the two parts of the city.

The bridge was destroyed on November 9, 1993, by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak War. The bridge was reconstructed and reopened on July 23, 2004. It is one of the country's most recognizable landmarks.

Italy

The Ponte Vecchio spans the Arno River in Florence, Italy. It is known for having shops built along it, a common practice in medieval times. The original bridge was destroyed twice and reconstructed in stone in 1345.

The Rialto Bridge is one of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. This is the oldest bridge to span the canal and was the dividing line between the districts of San Marco and San Polo. The present bridge is a single span that was designed by Antonio da Ponte and completed in 1591.

Spain

Puente Nuevo Bridge or New Bridge is the newest and largest of three bridges spanning the deep chasm through which flows the Guadalevin River. The river divides the city of Ronda in southern Spain.

It took 42 years for the bridge to be completed. Above the central arch is a chamber that has been used for different purposes including a prison. During the Civil War 1936 - 1939 both sides used the prison as a torture chamber from which they killed some prisoners by throwing them from the windows to the rocks at the bottom of the Tajo Gorge.

Portugal

The Ponte 25 de Abril is a suspension bridge that stretches across the River Tagus. It has become one of the most notable landmarks of the capital city of Portugal, Lisbon. The bridge was named for the Portuguese Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974.

The Dom Luis I Bridge is a double-decker metal arch bridge spanning the Duoro River. This bridge connects the cities of Vila do Porta and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal.