The Top 5 Iconic and Storied Bridges of Central and Eastern Europe
Andrew Villone | Savor the Experience Tours
Amazing architecture, a romantic spot for a kiss, essential infrastructure to cross rivers and neighborhoods, or just the perfect place for a sunset photo; here are five bridges in Central and Eastern Europe that offer all of these uses and more.
Mostar Bridge — Mostar, Bosnia
One of the most iconic bridges in Europe, Mostar’s single-arch stone beauty was destroyed in the Balkan wars of the ‘90s. However, it was rebuilt from the same materials that the Ottomans used to make the original some 400 years ago.
Mostar Bridge
Image | Andrew Villone
Dragon Bridge — Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dragons are the symbol of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. It was the first reinforced concrete bridge built in the Habsburg Empire. Rumor has it that the dragons wag their tails every time a virgin walks across the bridge.
Dragon Bridge
Image | Luka Esenko, Photo Hound
Charles Bridge — Prague, Czech Republic
This is one of the most atmospheric bridges in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Prague. In 1987, before the hordes of tourists found Prague (and a few years prior to the Velvet Revolution), the Australian rock band INXS managed to capture the feel of the bridge and city on a typical cold and grey winter’s day in their video “Never Tear Us Apart.”
Charles Bridge
[Image | @martinkrchnacek, Unsplash
Chain Bridge — Budapest, Hungary
This beauty spans the Danube river. It was sunk by retreating Nazis in 1945 but has since been rebuilt (although it is due for some major renovations). Anyone traveling from the Pest side to the Buda side should take a stroll across it.
Chain Bridge
Image | Andrew Villone
Bridge of Lies — Sibiu, Romania
Romania’s oldest iron-cast bridge dating back to 1859, this one has many legends attached to it, including one that gave it its name. Supposedly, anyone telling a lie while crossing the bridge will make it collapse. We put it to the test on a few occasions but the bridge is still standing in Sibu.
Bridge of Lies
Image | Andrew Villone
