5 Pictures Of Old Stone Bridges And Descriptions

Since ancient times, bridges have played a significant role in the life of any settlement; therefore much attention has been given to not only their structural strength but also architectural design. Here are 5 pictures of old stone bridges, that are famous not only for their beauty but also history.

5. Footbridge in Shaharah, Yemen

The stone bridge is over a deep gorge and connects two parts of the Shaharah village located on the tops of mountains, Shaharah (2306 m) and Mafluk (2215 m) in the North of Yemen. The bridge is a national symbol and is even depicted on 10 riyals coin.

Thanks to the preserved fragments, it was possible to identify that the construction was created over 400 years ago. At that time, it consisted of three arches, however, only the top of them has survived until our days.

In XVI—XVII centuries, the village served as a center of resistance to the Turks, and during the civil war of the 1960s, it was the headquarters of the royalists.

A tough road to the bridge is full of hazards associated with mountainous terrain and impassability, but the magnificent scenery of the majestic mountains and green valleys make you forget about any risk.

4. The Devil’s Bridge (Rakotzbrücke), Azalea and Rhododendron Park, Kromlau, Germany

The Devil’s Bridge is a stone arch built approx in 1860 that is located in a park named Kromlau situated in 120 km from Dresden.

Basalt stones, which were used in the construction of the bridge, were delivered to this place from different regions of Saxon Switzerland and Bohemia. The same material was used in the construction of the caves, pyramids, and other structures in the park.

Also, in the interests of safety, the access to the bridge was closed, but you can always admire it from afar. What is interesting is that the bridge forms a perfectly regular circle no matter at what viewing angle you look at it. This fact gave rise to the legend about an architect who made a pact with the devil, and that the bridge is a portal to other worlds.

3. Stari Most Arch Bridge, Mostar, Herzegovina

The bridge, built in the XVI century, was destroyed during the Croat-Bosniak war. Money for the restoration of the bridge was collected throughout the world, and in 2004, it was re-opened. Every July, young men compete in diving from the bridge the height of which is 24 m. This risky pastime has more than a century.

2. Tower Bridge, London

The drawbridge over Thames river was built in the second half of the nineteenth century, when it became uneasy to residents of the developing East London to get to the other side of the river.

The pedestrian walkways connecting the towers of the bridge at the height of 44 meters were allowing to use the bridge even during the divorce. Now, they serve as an observation deck and exhibition, the photographs and interactive materials of which tell the story of the most famous London bridge. The bridge is definitely one of the world's most amazing bridges to see, so when traveling through Europe, do not forget to visit it.

1. Charles Bridge (Karlův most), Praha, Czech Republic

Charles Bridge connects two legendary districts of Prague - Stare Mesto and Mala Stránská, which house the most impressive sights of the city.

Built in the XIV century, the bridge became pedestrian only in 1974. What is interesting is that Charles IV himself established the first stone in the structure of the bridge on 9 July 1357, at 5:31 am. Also, the bridge was paid for ordinary citizens, as in order to get to the Castle from the Royal Court, Czech Kings were supposed to go through it.

Besides, there was a time when various spectacular tournaments and noisy fairs were hosted on the bridge, and today the Charles bridge is the concentration of artists, musicians, and tourists.