10 bridges that you should cross

I’ve always had a thing for bridges. Mainly old stone ones. However, as I grew and grew as a traveller, I started to discover new horizons while still being tempted by the old ones. Would you like to cross them with me by your side?

1. STARI MOST

Location: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

River: Neretva

Completed: 1566

Trivia: Built during the Ottoman period by the Turkish architect Hajrudin and commissioned by the sultan Soliman the Magnificent, Stari Most was completed after nine years’ work. Various legends were woven around the bridge, one of them exploring the stubbornness of Hajrudin, who stayed underneath of it for three days and nights in order to demonstrate the bridge's absolute solidity. The original version of the bridge fought time but couldn't resist conflicts, as it was destroyed in November 1993 during the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was rebuilt and re-inaugurated in July 2004, enchanting again the eyes of the locals and of the visitors of this jewel of a city. 

 

2. PONTE LUIS I

Location: Porto, Portugal

River: Duoro

Completed: 1886

Trivia: The bridge is often confused with the nearby Maria Pia Bridge. The latter has only one deck.

3. LÁNCHÍD

Location: Budapest, Hungary

River: Danube

Completed: 1849

Trivia: According to the story, sculptor Marschalko János forgot to carve out the lions' tongues. A boy noticed this during the opening ceremony. The sculptor became so distressed that he jumped off the bridge into the Danube.

4. STARA KAMENA ĆUPRIJA

Location: Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina

River: Neretva

Completed: 1682

Trivia: The imposing Kamena cuprija (Stone Bridge) was destroyed during WWII, but was rebuilt in 2009.

5. MOST MEHMED-PAŠE SOKOLOVIĆA

Location: Višegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina

River: Drina

Completed: 1571

Trivia: Even though misleading through its name, the bridge was built by Ottoman architect and engineer Mimar Sinan for the Grand Vizier (of Christian origin) Mehmed Paša Sokolović.

6. POL-E JOUI

Location: Isfahan, Iran

River: Zayanderud

Completed: 1665

Trivia: As a result of drought and water diversion to other Iranian cities south of Isfahan, there is usually no water in the river bed, so one may walk freely and take pictures from various perspectives. (At least, this was the case in 2014.)

7. ARSLANAGIĆA MOST

Location: Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina

River: Trebišnjica

Completed: 1574

Trivia: Again commissioned by Mehmed Paša, the bridge was homage to his son killed in the fights against the Venetians.

8. TOWER BRIDGE

Location: London, England

River: Thames

Completed: 1894

Trivia: How many people cross the bridge every day? Well, that’s over 40000 (motorists and pedestrians).

9. BRÚ Á MILLI HEIMSÁLFA

Location: Sandvík, Iceland

River: --

Completed: 2002

Trivia: Reykjanes peninsula is located on one of the world's major plate boundaries, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. With the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates continuously drifting apart, linear fractures, known as fissures, form. The Bridge between the two continents is a small footbridge over such a major fissure. Consequently, you can have one foot on European soil and the other on North American soil at the same time.

10. PONT ALEXANDRE III

Location: Paris, France

River: Seine

Completed: 1900

Trivia: Named after Tsar Alexandre III, the bridge would commemorate the Franco-Russian Alliance signed in 1892 and considering the big threat that Germany posed – as always – to the two countries.