Where are there more bridges? Which European city has the most bridges? The Best Engineering Designs of All Time


Hamburg- the second (after Berlin) heart of Germany. Tourists visit it with pleasure, because here you can not only look at numerous attractions, but also simply enjoy walking along the picturesque streets. Gives a special flavor to the city a huge number of bridges across the Elbe River, of which, according to various estimates, there are from 2300 to 2500. In all of Europe you will not find another city where so many bridges have been built: Hamburg has surpassed Venice, Amsterdam and London combined in terms of this indicator.

One of the most famous bridges in Hamburg is the Köhlbrandbrücke. It was opened in 1974 and until 1991 remained the largest in the world, because its span is 325 m wide and 3940 m long.


Among the oldest bridges in Hamburg, the Elbbrücke should be noted. In 1899 it was built for automobile traffic, but over time other bridges over the Elbe appeared. After reconstruction, which took place from 1980 to 1985, the Elbbrücke is used as a pedestrian road, and cyclists and motorcyclists are also allowed on it.

The Cattwick Bridge is famous for being the world's largest railway bridge. road transport with a vertical lift, the height of which is 46 m. ​​Car traffic is suspended for 8-10 minutes while the train passes. In addition, the lift allows ships to pass through the bridge; on weekdays, traffic also stops every two hours to allow ships to pass.


The Lombard and Kennedy bridges deserve special attention. As you might guess, the Lombard railway bridge got its name after a corresponding establishment was opened here in 1651. By the way, until 1865 the bridge was wooden. Next to the Lombard Bridge, another bridge was built in 1953. It was necessary because it was necessary to “unload” the flow of traffic that was transported across Lake Alster. It was named after the American president later, in 1963, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.


The historic Trostbrücke Bridge, built in 1881, originally served as the border between the old and new cities of Hamburg. On the bridge there are stone statues of Count Adolf III, as well as Bishop Ansger, who is the founder of the city cathedral.

1. Golden Gate Bridge: San Francisco, USA

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is perhaps the most recognizable bridge in the world. Today he is already 75 years old.
While some people may not be inspired by industrial design, the San Francisco Suspension Bridge fits in nicely with the landscape. famous bridges he came to the world by right. Perhaps that is why it has long become the hallmark of this city.

2. Sydney Harbor Bridge (Sydney bridge):

Nickname "Hanger" local residents Sydney was named for this bridge because of its special design, which is based on the shape of the arch. Sydney Harbor Bridge opened in 1932 and is a focal point of Australian pride and celebration.
The bridge climb is ideal for beginner climbers.
Every year on New Year's Eve, the bridge itself is used to complement the fireworks with various effects, such as smiling faces or disco balls.

A medieval bridge over the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio is mainly known for its jewelry stores, art dealer network and souvenir shops, and for being Europe's oldest stone bridge, which has enclosed enameled segmental arches.
At the same time, the Ponte Vecchio bridge is magnificent and has a rich history dating back to Roman times.
During World War II, the bridge was not destroyed by the Nazis due to Adolf Hitler's express decree, unlike many other bridges in Europe.

4. Brooklyn Bridge: New York, USA

Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States.
As a tourist attraction national history The Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic feature of New York City.

5. Gateshead Millennium Bridge: Gateshead, England

The Millennium Bridge in Gateshead is the first and so far only inclined bridge in the world. But the most amazing thing is that when pedestrians or bikers cross the River Tyne, it seems to them as if the bridge winks with an eye as it rises and falls.
Its innovative and unique design has won numerous awards since it was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 2002.
This was the work of the largest floating cranes in Europe - the Asian Hercules II.

6. Tsing Ma Bridge: Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong's Tsing Ma Bridge is the largest suspension bridge in a world where there are two decks. Both cars and rail transport can travel here.
This bridge has been subjected to some serious wind tunnel testing as Hong Kong endures powerful typhoons every year. After expenses costing HK$7.2 billion (US$920 million), the Qing Ma Bridge was opened in 1997.
There are several passages on the bridge that are protected and located on the lower deck. They can move around here vehicles, when there are very strong, dangerous winds outside, the famous bridges of the world should stand out not only for their beauty and unusualness, but also be safe.

7. Akashi-Kaikuo or Mother of Pearl Bridge: Kobe-Naruto, Japan

The Mother of Pearl Bridge currently holds the title of "The Longest Suspension Bridge in the World" with a span of 1,991 meters. The second longest is the Chinese Xihoumen Bridge.
As a modern technical feat, the Mother of Pearl Bridge has remained the world's longest since 1998.
The Mother of Pearl Bridge underwent a true test of strength even before its opening when it survived the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995.

8. Hangzhou Bay Bridge: Zhejiang, China

Connecting the Chinese municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo in Zhejiang province is the longest transoceanic bridge in the world - the 35-kilometer Hangzhou Bay Bridge.
More than 600 experts spent nine years designing the Hangzhou Bay Bridge.

9. Nanpu Bridge: Shanghai, China

Known for its fantastic, innovative spiral shape, Shanghai Nanpu Bridge was created by designers who came up with a new idea to save space.

10. Tower Bridge: London, England

The Tower Bridge in London, spanning the River Thames, was opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince of Wales. This bridge is one of the main iconic landmarks of the city.
One of the final scenes in the climax of the Hollywood blockbuster “Sherlock Holmes” takes place on the bridge.

11. Royal Gorge Bridge: Canon City, Colorado, USA

The Royal Gorge Bridge is the tallest suspension bridge in the world, 359 meters above the Arkansas River.
No wonder he attracts a large number of people who are fond of jumping.

12. Sri Wawasan Bridge: Putrajaya, Malaysia

The bridge's absolutely stunning design is why it was ranked in the top three beautiful bridges peace.

13. Lupu Bridge: Shanghai, China

The Lupu Bridge in Shanghai earns a place on this list because, at 3,900 meters long, it is the longest steel arch bridge in the world and also provides an amazing panorama overlooking the old Shanghai World Expo site2010.

14. Millau Viaduct: Chan Valley, France

The highest road bridge in the world, it is above ground, but during fog, crossing Millau can easily feel like you are crossing the sky.
Three world records were set during the construction of this bridge.

15. Vasco da Gama Bridge: Lisbon, Portugal

Vasco da Gama spans the Tagus River near Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and was built to ease congestion and improve access to World's Fair along the banks of the Tagus River in 1998.
It's not the longest, it's not the highest, but it's definitely the most beautiful bridge.

16. Khayu Bridge: Esfahan, Iran

This bridge provides wonderful views, showcases beautiful design, and regulates the flow of the river - all of which have been going on since 1650.
Any fanatic or just a traveler must see this bridge.

17.Wind and Rain Bridge: Sanyang State, China

The State's Linkxi Sanyang Wind and Rain Bridge is magnificent.
It was built in 1916 and resembles a rainbow. The builders did not use any nails or rivets, but instead tied together thousands of pieces of wood.

18. Sun Bridge: Klosters, Switzerland

The Solar Bridge was built in 1998 and received the first prize in architecture in 2001 for its "aesthetic appearance and innovative design."

19. Old Bridge: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

A 16th-century bridge in the city of Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Sari crosses the Neretva River.
The bridge stood for 427 years until it was destroyed during the Bosnian War in 1993. It was later restored and reopened in 2004.
A tradition has formed in the city: young men must jump into the water at least once from this bridge.

20. Chain Bridge: Budapest, Hungary

The chain bridge has many symbols of reunification. Opened in 1849, it truly linked "Buda" and "Pest", which were previously located in two sections of the city.
In 2001, Hungarian stunt pilot Peter Beseney jumped headfirst from a bridge.

21. New Brunswick Heartland Bridge: New Brunswick, Canada

The long covered bridges may not look as majestic compared to some of the other mega bridges featured here. But covered bridges have their own unique charm.
Some covered bridges have only one lane, such as this Heartland Bridge in New Brunswick, Canada.

22.Confederation Bridge: Prince Edward Island, Canada

This bridge links Prince Edward Island across the Northumberland Strait to the mainland of New Brunswick, Canada, and is the most... long bridge, which runs on ice in the world.
This bridge is the embodiment of strength, imposing and masculine. Since its opening in 1997, potato production on Prince Edward Island has increased dramatically.

23. Helix Bridge: Marina Bay, Singapore

The bridge in Singapore, which consists of a double helix, is 280 meters long and is made of special stainless steel. It was carefully collected over two years.
Despite the fact that he is only two years old, he is already being presented as architectural wonder and engineering feat.

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. He is also popular tourist destination thanks to its beautiful scenery, unique juxtaposition of historical monuments and modern pubs and nightclubs, including the world-famous red light district of Reeperbahn.

Hamburg is considered large port city, despite its location approximately 100 kilometers from North Sea, on both sides of the Elbe River. Hamburg has the country's largest port - the second busiest port in Europe, and the third largest in the world, after the ports of London and New York. Therefore, everyone who loves water, ships and harbors simply must visit it.

Hamburg is practically surrounded by water on all sides. The Alster River is divided into two lakes, Binnen and Aussenalster (meaning "inner" and "outer"), located on either side of the city, and the Elbe River flows directly through the city and into the North Sea. This abundance of water means there are many canals, rivers and bridges. In fact, few people know that Hamburg has more bridges than any other city in the world, as well as more canals than Amsterdam and Venice combined. Estimates put the number between 2,300 and 2,500 - far more than the total number of canals in London, Amsterdam and Venice. Below are the most famous bridges of this wonderful city:

Köhlbrand Bridge




The Köhlbrand Bridge opened in 1974 and has been one of Hamburg's most famous landmarks ever since. Its length is 3940 meters, and the span of the central, cable-stayed part is 325 meters. From 1974 to 1991, this bridge was considered the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is now considered the second longest bridge in Germany.

Network of Hamburg Elbe Bridges (Hamburg Elbbrücken)


New Elbe Bridge (Neue Elbbrücke), Billhorner Bridge, and Freeport Elbe Bridge.


Railroad bridge


New bridge over the Elbe


Bridge over the Elbe Freeport
The network of Hamburg Bridges on the Elbe is several independent bridges, which cross the Elbe River, which flows through Hamburg. This Hamburg shipping route is divided into two main branches - the North Elbe and the South Elbe, which merge after they pass the network of Elbe Islands, united into the most big Island on this river.

Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe (Harburger Elbbrücke)




The Old Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe was opened in 1899. The 474 meter steel arch bridge, originally built for vehicles, was the first road bridge across the South Branch of the Elbe. Now it serves only to ferry pedestrians and cyclists. Between 1980 and 1995, the bridge was radically rebuilt. Cantilever walkways were built on both sides of the bridge.

Kattwyk Bridge




The Kattwyk Bridge, crossing the South Branch of the Elbe, is a 290-meter vertical drawbridge with two 70-meter-long entrances for rail and road transport. This bridge, opened on March 21, 1973, connects the Wilhelmsburg quarter with the Moorburg quarter. Both neighborhoods are located on the Elbe island network. Kattwyk is capable of rising to a height of 46 meters and is the largest vertical drawbridge in the world.

The peculiarity of the bridge is that the rails located on it are located in the center of the roadway. Due to the fact that Kattwyk is both a railway and road bridge, road traffic is blocked when a freight train passes through the bridge. These stops usually last between eight and ten minutes. On weekdays, the bridge is raised every two hours to allow ships to pass. During the lifting of the bridge, traffic stops for 15-20 minutes.

Brooks Bridge




The Brooks Bridge, which leads to the city of Speicherstadt, was opened in 1887. The bridge is decorated with four statues, one at each of its corners. The original sculptures were destroyed during World War II. The sculptures that stand on the bridge today were installed in 2001.

Lombardsbruecke and Kennedy Bridge


The Lombard Bridge in Hamburg is a railway and road bridge over the Alster River. It was named after the pawnshop that was located there in 1651. The original wooden bridge was replaced in 1865 by a new 69-metre, three-arch bridge crossing the Alster River.


Next to the Lombard Bridge is the Kennedy Bridge. The second bridge was built in 1953 because the old Lombard Bridge could not cope with the increased traffic. The bridge was originally called the New Lombard Bridge. It was renamed Kennedy Bridge in 1963 in honor of John F. Kennedy after his assassination.


Lombard Bridge and Kennedy Bridge separate the Inner and Outer Alster lakes.

Toll Bridge (Zollenbrücke)


The Toll Bridge is the oldest bridge in the city, built in 1663. The 25-meter bridge, with three different sized arches, is built from sandstone blocks. Railings and lanterns were added in the 19th century when the bridge was widened.

Elerntors Bridge


The Ellerntors Bridge is a stone arch bridge that crosses the Tomb of the Lord's Fleet. For many centuries it served as a direct route from Hamburg to Altona. Built in 1668, this bridge is the second oldest surviving stone bridge in Hamburg.

Otradny Bridge (Trostbrücke)


The Otradny Bridge is a small historical bridge crossing “Nikolaifleet”, which is one of the many narrow coves connecting the city’s docks with the Elbe River. Situated southwest of the city center, it once stood on the border between Hamburg's old and new towns. It was built in 1881. This stone structure is famous for the presence of statues of Count Adolf III and Bishop Ansgar, the founder of the very first cathedral in Hamburg. In translation, the bridge is called “Otradny”. It received this name because convicts were led across it, and the beauty of the bridge was their last joy.

Reesendamm Bridge


The "Reesendamm" bridge crosses the Little Alster lake, Jungfernstieg and mountain road. It was named after Heinrich Müller Reese, who owned a corn mill in the 13th century. The bridge was built in 1843. People love to come to this bridge to admire the beautiful view of the river with swans, which they can feed with pieces of bread.

Bridge "Slamatjen"


One of the lesser-known bridges is the Slamatjen Bridge, located in the Neustadt district on the Ludwig-Erhard street, which crosses the Alster. Since its completion in 1959, it has served as a road bridge. On the bridge there is a wonderful picture carved in stone, which represents two women talking. The place where the bridge is located once was popular place meetings of water bearer women.


Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. It is also a popular tourist destination thanks to its stunning scenery, unique mix of historical monuments and modern pubs and nightclubs, including the world-famous red light district Reeperbahn.

Hamburg is considered a major port city, despite its location approximately 100 kilometers from the North Sea, on both sides of the Elbe River. Hamburg has the country's largest port - the second busiest port in Europe, and the third largest in the world, after the ports of London and New York. Therefore, everyone who loves water, ships and harbors simply must visit it.

Hamburg is practically surrounded by water on all sides. The Alster River is divided into two lakes, Binnen and Aussenalster (meaning "inner" and "outer"), located on either side of the city, and the Elbe River flows directly through the city and into the North Sea. This abundance of water means there are many canals, rivers and bridges. In fact, few people know that Hamburg has more bridges than any other city in the world, as well as more canals than Amsterdam and Venice combined. Estimates put the number between 2,300 and 2,500 - far more than the total number of canals in London, Amsterdam and Venice. Below are the most famous bridges of this wonderful city:

Köhlbrand Bridge

The Köhlbrand Bridge opened in 1974 and has been one of Hamburg's most famous landmarks ever since. Its length is 3940 meters, and the span of the central, cable-stayed part is 325 meters. From 1974 to 1991, this bridge was considered the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is now considered the second longest bridge in Germany.

Network of Hamburg Elbe Bridges (Hamburg Elbbrücken)

New Elbe Bridge (Neue Elbbrücke), Billhorner Bridge, and Freeport Elbe Bridge.

Railroad bridge

New bridge over the Elbe

Bridge over the Elbe Freeport
The Hamburg Elbe Bridge Network is a series of independent bridges that cross the Elbe River, which flows through Hamburg. This Hamburg shipping route is divided into two main branches, the North Elbe and the South Elbe, which merge after they pass the network of Elbe Islands, united to form the largest island on this river.

Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe (Harburger Elbbrücke)


The Old Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe was opened in 1899. The 474 meter steel arch bridge, originally built for vehicles, was the first road bridge across the South Branch of the Elbe. Now it serves only to ferry pedestrians and cyclists. Between 1980 and 1995, the bridge was radically rebuilt. Cantilever walkways were built on both sides of the bridge.

Kattwyk Bridge


The Kattwyk Bridge, crossing the South Branch of the Elbe, is a 290-meter vertical drawbridge with two 70-meter-long entrances for rail and road transport. This bridge, opened on March 21, 1973, connects the Wilhelmsburg quarter with the Moorburg quarter. Both neighborhoods are located on the Elbe island network. Kattwyk is capable of rising to a height of 46 meters and is the largest vertical drawbridge in the world.

The peculiarity of the bridge is that the rails located on it are located in the center of the roadway. Due to the fact that Kattwyk is both a railway and road bridge, road traffic is blocked when a freight train passes through the bridge. These stops usually last between eight and ten minutes. On weekdays, the bridge is raised every two hours to allow ships to pass. During the lifting of the bridge, traffic stops for 15-20 minutes.

Brooks Bridge


The Brooks Bridge, which leads to the city of Speicherstadt, was opened in 1887. The bridge is decorated with four statues, one at each of its corners. The original sculptures were destroyed during World War II. The sculptures that stand on the bridge today were installed in 2001.

Lombardsbruecke and Kennedy Bridge

The Lombard Bridge in Hamburg is a railway and road bridge over the Alster River. It was named after the pawnshop that was located there in 1651. The original wooden bridge was replaced in 1865 by a new 69-metre, three-arch bridge crossing the Alster River.

Next to the Lombard Bridge is the Kennedy Bridge. The second bridge was built in 1953 because the old Lombard Bridge could not cope with the increased traffic. The bridge was originally called the New Lombard Bridge. It was renamed Kennedy Bridge in 1963 in honor of John F. Kennedy after his assassination.

Lombard Bridge and Kennedy Bridge separate the Inner and Outer Alster lakes.

Toll Bridge (Zollenbrücke)

The Toll Bridge is the oldest bridge in the city, built in 1663. The 25-meter bridge, with three different sized arches, is built from sandstone blocks. Railings and lanterns were added in the 19th century when the bridge was widened.

Elerntors Bridge

The Ellerntors Bridge is a stone arch bridge that crosses the Tomb of the Lord's Fleet. For many centuries it served as a direct route from Hamburg to Altona. Built in 1668, this bridge is the second oldest surviving stone bridge in Hamburg.

Otradny Bridge (Trostbrücke)

The Otradny Bridge is a small historical bridge crossing “Nikolaifleet”, which is one of the many narrow coves connecting the city’s docks with the Elbe River. Situated southwest of the city center, it once stood on the border between Hamburg's old and new towns. It was built in 1881. This stone structure is famous for the presence of statues of Count Adolf III and Bishop Ansgar, the founder of the very first cathedral in Hamburg. In translation, the bridge is called “Otradny”. It received this name because convicts were led across it, and the beauty of the bridge was their last joy.

Reesendamm Bridge

The "Reesendamm" bridge crosses the Little Alster lake, Jungfernstieg and the mountain road. It was named after Heinrich Müller Reese, who owned a corn mill in the 13th century. The bridge was built in 1843. People love to come to this bridge to admire the beautiful view of the river with swans, which they can feed with pieces of bread.

Bridge "Slamatjen"

One of the lesser-known bridges is the Slamatjen Bridge, located in the Neustadt district on the Ludwig-Erhard street, which crosses the Alster. Since its completion in 1959, it has served as a road bridge. On the bridge there is a wonderful picture carved in stone, which represents two women talking. The area where the bridge is located was once a popular meeting place for water-bearing women.

A drawbridge is a special type of bridge that has dynamic moving parts used to change its shape, usually to allow ships to pass under it. There are many types of drawbridges, and they all differ in the way they are converted. Below is a list with video of the ten most amazing drawbridges in the world.

Palace Bridge

The rating of the most amazing drawbridges in the world opens with “Palace Bridge”. This is one of 22 drawbridges across the Neva River in St. Petersburg. Connects the central part of the city (Admiralteysky Island) and Vasilyevsky Island. Its length is 250 meters, width 27.7 m. It is considered one of the symbols of the city.

Horn Bridge

Hörn Bridge is a swing bridge located in the city of Kiel, the capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It was built in 1997. It consists of three spans, the main of which is 25.5 meters in length, capable of folding in the shape of the letter “N”. The bridge belongs to the architectural and technical landmarks of the city, and is also important route for the movement of pedestrians and cyclists. It offers one of the best panoramic views of the city of Kiel. Typically, the Hörn Bridge folds once per hour.

Scale Lane footbridge

Eighth in the list of ten amazing drawbridges in the world is the Scale Lane footbridge, a pedestrian drawbridge located on the River Hull in the center of Kingston upon Hull, UK. The total length of the bridge is 57 meters, weight is 1000 tons.

The Dragon Bridge

In seventh place in the list of the most amazing drawbridges in the world is The Dragon Bridge - a drawbridge pedestrian bridge, located in resort town Rhyl on the north-east coast of Wales. Was opened in 2013.

Biscay Bridge

The Vizcaya Bridge is a flying ferry across the Nervión River connecting the cities of Portugalete and Las Arenas in Spain. It was built in 1893 according to the design of the famous Basque architect Alberto Palacio, a student of Gustave Eiffel. The 164-meter-long bridge has a gondola that transports 6 cars and several dozen passengers from one bank to the other every 8 minutes in one and a half minutes. Considered the perfect combination of beauty and functionality, and one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 19th century.

Bridge Women

The Women's Bridge is a beautiful pedestrian rotating bridge in the new Puerto Madero, commercial district of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was built according to the design of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava in December 2001. About $6 million was spent on its construction. The Women's Bridge, with a total length of 170 meters, a width of 6.2 meters, weighs 800 tons and is considered one of the main attractions of the city.

Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas

Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas is a vertical lift bridge over the Garon River in Bordeaux, France. It is located approximately 3 km from the city center and connects the Bacalan and Bastide areas. It was named after Jacques Chaban-Delmas, former Prime Minister of France and former mayor of Bordeaux. The bridge with a total length of 433 meters and a width of 45 meters was opened in 2013. It is the longest vertical lift bridge in Europe. Its main (movable) span weighs 2,600 tons and is 110 meters long.

Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge is the world's first tilting pedestrian bridge over the River Tyne in Northern England. Connects the cities of Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. Sometimes it is also called "Winking Eye". It was put into operation in September 2001. $40 million was spent on its construction. The Millennium Bridge, with a total length of 126 meters and weighing 850 tons, “turns” about 200 times a year, each time attracting huge crowds of spectators. The rotation lasts about 4.5 minutes.

Slauerhoffbrug

Slauerhoffbrug is a fully automatic lift bridge located in the city of Leeuwarden, province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It was named after the writer and poet Jan Jakob Slauerhof. A special feature of this bridge is a movable platform measuring 15x15 meters, which rotates when opened at 45°.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is the most amazing swing and suspension bridge on the River Thames, located in the center of London, not far from the Tower of London. The bridge is 244 meters long and 65 meters high and consists of two towers that are connected by two horizontal walkways. Its construction began on June 21, 1886 and lasted eight years. The construction of Tower Bridge involved 432 workers and a cost of £1,184,000. On June 30, 1894, the bridge was inaugurated by Prince Edward of Wales. Nowadays, this one of the most beautiful bridges in the world is raised on average 4-5 times a week.

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