Bridges are essential:they are connections between two banks, sometimes between two cultures, two regions, two cities. They are there to transport food, water, cars and people. European bridges are sometimes works of art and we have selected the 8 most beautiful in Europe for you.
The 25th of April Bridge
Lisbon, Portugal
The 25th of Abril Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, connects to the municipality of Almada on the left (south) bank of the Tagus River. Because it is a suspension bridge and has the same color, it is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA. With a total length of 2277 m, it is the 23rd largest suspension bridge in the world.
The Tower Bridge
London – UK
Tower Bridge (built 1886-1894) is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London that connects the crossed the River Thames. Close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name, it has become an iconic symbol of London.
The Bastei Bridge
Lohmen – Germany
The Bastei is a rock formation towering 194 meters above the Elbe in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Germany. Rising 305 meters above sea level, the jagged rocks of the Bastei were formed by water erosion more than a million years ago. The Bastei has been a tourist attraction for more than 200 years. In 1824 a wooden bridge was built to connect several rocks for the visitors. This bridge was replaced in 1851 by the current sandstone Bastei bridge.
Ponte Vecchio
Florence – Italy
The Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”) is a Medieval closed arch bridge spanning the River Arno , in Florence, Italy, known for its shops that still exist today. The current shops are jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers.
The Puente Nuevo Bridge
Ronda – Spain
The Puente Nuevo Bridge, along with the Royal Cavalry Order of Ronda, is the symbol and soul of the city. The bridge spans the deep Tajo de Ronda gorge with the Guadalevín River. In certain places this gorge is 120 meters deep.
The Vasco da Gama Bridge
Lisbon – Portugal
The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a cable bridge flanked by viaducts and located above the river the Tagus in Parque das Nações in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It is the longest bridge in Europe (including viaducts), with a total length of 17.2 km.
The Pont du Gard Bridge
Gard – France
The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge over the river Gardon in the Gard department of South France. It is part of the Nîmes aqueduct, a 50 km long structure built by the Romans to carry water from a source in Uzès to the Roman colony of Nemausus (Nîmes). The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman bridges and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 for its historical importance.
The Millau Viaduct
Aveyron – France
The Millau Viaduct is a funicular bridge spanning the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. It is the highest bridge in the world with a mast top at 343.0 meters above the base of the structure. It is the twelfth highest bridge deck in the world, 270 meters between the road surface and the ground below.
