Ancient bridges. Ancient and unusual bridges of Europe

The U Bein Bridge crosses Lake Tauntome and is rightfully considered a landmark of Myanmar. The longest and oldest bridge on the planet is entirely made of local wood - teak. At sunset, when its elegant structure is pierced by the rays of the setting sun, the bridge looks indescribably beautiful. The “water road” was built in 1850 and has a length of 1200 m. It connects the city of Mandalay, which is the second largest in Myanmar, and the capital, Amarapura.

During the construction of the bridge, wooden trunks were used that remained from the former royal palace. In total, 1086 logs were used to create the bridge, and each of them was numbered using a special sign. However, time has not been kind to some of the trunks, and they have rotted. Concrete structures were installed in their place.

The lake's water content varies significantly depending on the season. During the rainy season, from July to August, Tauntome floods heavily and then the bridge becomes of utmost importance for local residents. In the cold season, not fed by rain, the lake takes on a very modest size.

The bridge against the backdrop of the setting sun is a breathtaking sight, appreciated by tourists. Many people come to Myanmar to see him. The popularity of the bridge has become an additional source of income for local population, who, in addition to selling souvenirs, make extra money by taking tourists in boats to the middle of the lake, from where the structure looks the most picturesque and makes an incredible impression.

When we think of buildings that have survived to this day, we tend to think of the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the pyramids. But what about the structures that are still used - for their intended purpose - to this day?

While most ancient structures have been given a second life as tourist attractions, a simple, unassuming bridge can retain its original purpose for centuries.

There are many bridges that were built hundreds of years ago and are still used in everyday life today due to the fact that they were built to last.

While older bridges are more likely to be destroyed by natural disasters, blown up during wars, or burned down in tragic accidents, the bridges on this list have survived the centuries relatively unchanged.

10. Fabricius Bridge (Pons Fabricius), Rome, Italy

The Romans built many things that have stood the test of time. Thanks to their rigorous and efficient construction techniques, several important structures built during the Roman era still stand today. If you want to carefully examine and study the fruits of their handicraft, then go to Rome and visit the Fabrician Bridge.

The bridge was built by Lucius Fabricius in 62 BC, probably to replace a burnt wooden bridge. You can tell that Lucius ordered it to be built, since he wrote it on the bridge in four different places.

In 21 BC. two consuls, Marcus Lollius and Quintus Aemilius Lepidus, made adjustments to the bridge so that it would be better preserved after the flood that occurred in 23 BC. True, what specific improvements were made is not indicated anywhere.

It may have been the addition of a small arch on the bridge that relieved pressure during floods. This is probably the only thing that helped the bridge survive for centuries.

9. Ponte Vecchio(Ponte Vecchio), Florence, Italy


Built in 1345, the Ponte Vecchio is located in Florence, Italy. It was erected to replace a wooden bridge that failed during the flood, so it is still preserved in its original splendor.
An interesting feature of the Ponte Vecchio (which means "old bridge" in Italian) is the vaulted gallery with shops. Today, jewelry and various souvenirs are sold here, but originally the passage housed butchers' shops. In fact, because of the fishmongers and butchers who traded here in the 15th century, there is still an unpleasant smell on the bridge.

Considering that at that time Florence was becoming the capital of the Renaissance, Grand Duke Ferdinand I banned the sale of meat and fish on the bridge, ordering that only gold and silversmiths' shops should be located on it, which created an attractive image for the city, helping to increase the flow of wealthy foreign tourists.

The bridge would hardly have survived to this day if not for the act of respect shown during World War II. When german soldiers leaving the city, they blew up all the bridges during their retreat. The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge that they did not touch, preferring to destroy access to it rather than the bridge itself.

8. Rialto Bridge (Ponte Di Rialto), Venice, Italy


The Italian Bridge was built in 1591 on the site of a collapsed wooden bridge. It was designed by the architect Antonio de Ponte, who, in conditions of fierce competition, participated in the competition for the best bridge design along with such outstanding architects as Michelangelo, Palladio, Vignola.

Unfortunately, after the bridge was built, it did not meet with an enthusiastic response among local residents. He received both praise and contemptuous ridicule from critics, who sharply condemned his design as “unstable and ungraceful.” The same attention was drawn to Eiffel Tower after it was built.

Despite criticism, the bridge has remained largely untouched since its inception. Given that it had to have a 7-meter arch to allow galleys to sail underneath, and also be strong enough to accommodate a row of benches in the center, it had to be structurally sound and durable. The Rialto Bridge is so strong that cannons were fired from it during the riots of 1797.

7. Khaju Bridge, Isfahan, Iran


Construction of this bridge, erected on the foundations of an old bridge in 1667, began by order of Shah Abbas II. As a bridge it serves its primary purpose of allowing people to cross the Zayandeh River, but it has other uses as well. The Khaju Bridge also functions as a dam (and has locks), and its most interesting use is the social aspect.

Even though we are not used to bridges being used as places for public gatherings, this did not stop Shah Abbas II from trying to build one of these. Impressive designs and patterns of ceramic tiles can still be seen along the bridge. A pavilion was built in the middle so that Shah Abbas II and his courtiers could enjoy the picturesque landscape.

These days, the pavilion houses a café and an art gallery. A stone seat was installed in the pavilion, on which Shah Abbas II enjoyed the view of the river. The place is still there, but as a remnant of its former glory.

6. Shaharah Bridge, Amran, Yemen


The Shekhar Bridge (or "Bridge of Sighs" as many call it), built in the 17th century, is located at an altitude of 200 meters and connects two mountains - Jabal al Emir and Jabal al Faish Faish).

It was difficult for local residents, whose houses were located on the slopes of both mountains, to visit each other, since to do this they first had to descend from one mountain and climb the other. The bridge was built to connect two villages on both sides of a deep gorge, thereby saving time and effort for local residents.

It wasn't easy dangerous area For vehicles. Considering that this was the only entrance to the city of Shekhara, the bridge had to be fortified to repel the attacks of the Turkish invaders. They say that local residents They know a way to destroy the bridge at any moment, isolating the inhabitants from danger.

Today, Shekhar Bridge is a major tourist attraction and still serves the locals as a functioning bridge.

5. Cendere Bridge, Eskikale, Türkiye


Also known as Severan, the bridge was built in the 2nd century by four cities of the Kingdom of Commagene. The bridge was built in honor of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia and their two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Being one of the most ancient, it is also the second most long bridge, built by the Romans.

Two columns rise on each side of the bridge, representing members of the imperial family: Severus and Julia on one side and Caracalla and Geta on the other. If you happen to visit the Jendere Bridge, you will see that the column representing Geta is missing.

All because Caracalla killed Geta because of constant rivalry, as they say, right in the arms of his mother. Moreover, Caracalla went so far as to order the murder of all of Geta's friends and allies, and as a final blow to Geta's legacy, he ordered the destruction of any mention of his brother so that his name would be erased from history - including the column symbolizing Geta.

4. Anji Bridge, Shijiazhuan, China


Anji Bridge, built in 605, is the oldest bridge in China. The bridge, whose name means “Bridge of Safe Crossing” in Chinese, can be said to have been built to last.

It was designed to be one of the best in the world. At that time it was considered technically progressive, as it had the largest arch. Considering that it is still quite strong, it is clear that the Anji Bridge, while a very ambitious structure, was not built at the expense of its appearance.

By the way, the bridge has passed much more than just the test of time. It managed to survive 10 floods, 8 wars and countless earthquakes, and repair work it required only 9 times over its entire documented service life.

3. Bridge of the Holy Angel (Ponte Sant’Angelo), Rome, Italy


Built by order of Emperor Hadrian in 136, the Ponte Sant'Angelo is one of the most famous in Rome and one of the most beautiful.

To some extent, the emperor built the bridge for the sake of his own vanity, since its main purpose was to connect the entire city with the Mausoleum of Hadrian, the Castle of the Holy Angel (Castel Sant'Angelo).

One of the most beautiful improvements to the bridge occurred many centuries after the death of the emperor. In 1668, the Italian architect and sculptor Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini decorated the entire length of the bridge with ten statues of angels, two of which he created himself. Each of the angels holds in their hands a symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Even now, after several centuries, the bridge and the angels still stand, being a famous and beautiful landmark.

2. Tarr Steps, Exmoor, England


The Tarr Steps (known as the "bridge") is a slab crossing on a stone support. Given the design of the bridge, it is difficult to say when it was built: it is assumed that in the period from 3000 BC. until the Middle Ages. The first documentary description of the bridge was made in Tudor times, that is, at least at the end of the 15th century.

There is a legend about Tarr Steps that it was built by the devil himself, who swore to kill anyone who dared to cross it. Then local residents, wanting to test the theory, sent a cat along it. The cat disappeared. They then sent a vicar across the bridge to meet the devil in the middle of the bridge. After they agreed, the devil said that anyone could use the bridge, but if he wanted to use this place for sunbathing, then the ban on using the bridge would be renewed. So if you want to walk along the Tarr Steps walkways, first make sure there isn't a sunbathering devil in your way.

Unfortunately, Tarr Steps is a small exception among bridges that have stood untouched for centuries. Considering that a pile of stones does not make the best foundation, some of them were demolished by floods over time. For this reason, all stones have been numbered so that such a case they could be put back where they were so that the bridge would retain its authenticity. Even though some of the stones have been put back in place several times, it is technically still the same bridge.

1. Arkadiko Bridge, Argolina, Greece


This bridge is the oldest surviving arch bridge that is still in use for its intended purpose. It is believed to have been built during the Greek Bronze Age, 1300-1200. BC

During the Mycenaean civilization, the bridge was part of a military road that ran between the cities of Tiryns and Epidauros. The width of the bridge is almost 2.5 meters, which is much wider than conventional pedestrian bridges. According to historians, the bridge was designed in such a way that chariots could pass across it.

What makes it even more impressive is that it was constructed entirely from limestone stones without the use of any binder. This means that the Arkadik Bridge, solely thanks to the skill of its builders, stood for three millennia, starting from the time of the Mycenaean civilization, and has survived to this day.

See the world's most beautiful pedestrian bridges, offering stunning views and stunning scenery.

24 PHOTOS

1. Peak Walk, Switzerland. This one is amazing suspension bridge, 107 meters long, connects two peaks Swiss Alps- Scex Rouge and Glacier 3000 peak - at an altitude of... 3000 meters. Only kodak cameras can capture all the greatness of this beauty. (Photo: DENIS BALIBOUSE/Newscom/Reuters).
2. A 280-meter bridge in the form of human DNA - this can only be seen in Singapore. In the evening, computer-controlled lighting gives the Helix Bridge an incredible atmosphere. (Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
3. The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in Ireland, built by local fishermen, stretches directly over a 30-meter precipice. (Photo: LOCOG/Getty Images).
4. The Trift Bridge in Switzerland is the longest suspension bridge footbridge in the Alps. It is located above Lake Triftsee and is 170 meters long. (Photo: Urs Flueeler/AP Photo).
5. Benson Bridge in the USA. The 14-meter bridge was built over Multnomah Falls in Oregon. (Photo: Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images).
6. Henderson Wave Bridge in Singapore. The undulating 275 meter bridge over Henderson Road features some very beautiful LED lighting. (Photo: TIM CHONG/Newscom/Reuters).
7. The suspension bridge, called “Across the Treetops,” is located in the Valley of the Giants, Australia. This amazing bridge was built for visitors National Park Walpole-Nornalup in Perth could walk and admire the crowns of giant eucalyptus trees. (Photo: REX Features)
8. Millennium Bridge in Gateshead, England. It is the world's first tilting bridge over the River Tyne and has won numerous architectural awards. Locals enjoy using it for walking and cycling from Gateshead to Newcastle. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images).
9. Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia. Situated 700 meters above sea level, a curved bridge leads to the summit of Gunung Mat Chinchang. The bridge, which is 125 meters long, offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. (Photo: UIG/Getty Images).
10. Capilano Suspension Bridge in Canada. Built in 1889, the bridge sits 70 meters above the Capilano River and appears to rest on the treetops of a virgin forest. (Photo: Rich Wheater/Aurora Photos/Corbis).
11. Kokonoe Great Suspension Bridge "Yume" in Japan is currently the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is 390 meters long and 173 meters high. The bridge offers stunning views of Shindonotaki Falls and the surrounding Kyusuikei forests. (Photo: UIG/Getty Images).
12. Cherrapunji Root Bridge in India. This is the most amazing natural bridge in the world, which was made by the Khasi tribe. The roots of the surrounding rubber trees were directed by local residents so that over time they would form strong, natural bridges that could support 50 people. (Photo: Amos Chapple/Getty Images)
13. Bridge of Peace in Georgia. The arched bridge, designed by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, is located over the Kura River in Tbilisi. The bridge structure was manufactured in Italy and transported to the construction site on 200 trucks. (Photo: David Sucsy/Getty Images)
14. Sonimgyo Bridge in South Korea. This arch bridge above Jeongjeyeon Falls on Jeju Island is decorated with 14 statues of nymphs playing various musical instruments. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Getty Images).
15. Nesciobrug in the Netherlands. This is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Europe. Its length is 780 meters. The bridge runs over Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal and will connect two districts: Amsterdam-Oost and IJburg. (Photo: Richard Wareham Fotografie/Getty Images)
16. Stone Bridge in Spain. The stone bridge is the only road connecting the island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe to the mainland. A bridge running over the ocean leads to a monastery with a small church. (Photo: Getty Images).
17. Women's Bridge in Argentina. The shape of the bridge, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, was inspired by the movements of a couple dancing tango. The 160-meter bridge is located over the Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires. (Photo: Diego Giudice/Bloomberg).
18. Tree Top Canopy Walk, Malaysia. The 300-meter bridge is located among the treetops of the rainforest on Borneo island. It is equipped with an observation deck from which you can admire the forest, which is... more than 130 million years old. (Photo: Andrea Pistolesi/Getty Images).
19. Royal Gorge Bridge in the USA. Built in 1929, the 385-meter bridge over the Arkansas River in Colorado is one of the region's most popular attractions. Royal Gorge Bridge, 305 meters high, was the most high bridge in the world 1929 to 2001. (Photo: David Zalubowski/AP Photo)
20. Tigbao Suspension Bridge in the Philippines. The bridge looks as if it is about to collapse, however, this is only an appearance. Hanging 25 meters above the Loboc River, the bridge is made of metal. The bamboo trim is just the outer layer of the structure. (Photo: OTHK/Getty Images).
21. Rialto Bridge in Venice. This is one of the most famous bridges in the world and a very popular attraction. The Rialto Bridge, which sits directly over the Grand Canal, was originally made of wood. The current stone structure was built between 1588 and 1591 under the direction of the architect Antonio da Ponte. (Photo: Manuel Silvestri/Reuters).
22. China's Chengyang Bridge, also known as Yongji Bridge or Rainy Bridge, was built in 1916 over the Linxi River in the Sanjiang region. It is made of wood and stone and is 65 meters high. (Photo: REX Features)
23. Old Bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Built in 1566, the arch bridge is an example of classical Ottoman architecture. During the war between Croatia and Bosnia in 1993, the bridge was destroyed. The old bridge was restored only in 2004. (Photo: Kelly Chang Travel Photography/Getty Images)
24. Pont du Gard in France. This Roman bridge, which has stood the test of time, is listed world heritage UNESCO. Built in ancient times, on the banks of the Gard River, the three-level bridge is one of the most famous tourist attractions in France. (Photo: REX Features)

The history of wooden bridge construction in our country has not yet been the subject of special study. Only the briefest mentions and simple listings of monuments in general works and popular essays devoted to the history of bridge construction in general and Russian wooden architecture. This article makes an attempt to systematize Russian wooden bridges historically established and currently existing types.

Brief history. The art of building bridges has been highly developed since ancient times. The main building material was pine due to the straightness and evenness of the trunk, good mechanical properties of the wood and resistance to decay, as well as its wide distribution. Ancient bridges, like other structures, were chopped and processed with an ax: grooves and sockets were cut out when connecting beams; Even the manufacture of planks was carried out by splitting logs lengthwise into several pieces using wedges. Therefore, chroniclers, speaking about the construction of wooden buildings or structures, used the word “cut down” instead of the word “build”: they cut down huts, mansions, bridges, etc.

The first mentions of bridges in Russian chronicles date back to the end of the 10th century. The improvement of the art of construction caused the emergence of a special kind of specialist - builders of bridges and crossings, called “bridge builders”. The first bridges were trees thrown from bank to bank, on big rivers raft ferries were arranged. Several interconnected rafts, on top of which a log flooring was laid, formed a “living” floating bridge. They were common on large rivers.

In 1115, under Vladimir Monomakh, a floating bridge across the Dnieper was built in Kyiv. Since floating bridges were quickly built and easily dismantled, they played a large role in military operations. There are two such bridges across the Volga, mentioned in reports of the siege of Tver under Dmitry Donskoy, and another bridge for crossing the Don during the battle with the Tatars in 1380. The first bridges in Moscow were “alive”: Moskvoretsky, Krymsky, etc. It should be noted that that floating bridges were widely used in Russia until late XIX V. The main reason for this was the significant width and depth of the rivers, as well as strong ice flow; under such conditions, floating bridges without permanent supports seemed to be the most appropriate, simple and inexpensive structures.

1. Moskvoretsky “live” - floating bridge. Engraving by Picard from the 17th century. (Photo library of GNIMA named after Shchusev)

2. Single-span bridge in Yeniseisk towards the 19th century.

3. Cantilever-beam bridge with an arched span on the river. This Arkhangelsk region. (photograph from 1920, Photo library of the Shchusev State National Research Institute)

Floating bridges could also be drawbridges; To allow ships to pass, one part of the bridge (the raft) was moved to the side. A 17th-century engraving by Picard gives an idea of ​​the floating Moskvoretsky drawbridge, which already existed in 1498. (Fig. 1) and a figurative description by Pavel Aleppo: “There are several bridges on the Moscow River, most of which are built on wooden piles. The bridge near the Kremlin, opposite the gate of the second city wall, arouses great surprise: it is smooth, made of large wooden beams, fitted one to the other and tied with thick ropes of linden bark, the ends of which are attached to the towers and to the opposite bank of the river. When the water rises, the bridge rises, because it is not supported by pillars, but consists of boards lying on the water, and when the water decreases, the bridge also lowers. When a ship with supplies for the palace arrives from the Kazan and Astrakhan regions... from Kolomna... to the bridges approved (on stilts), then its mast is lowered and the ship is carried under one of the spans; when they approach the mentioned bridge, then one of the connected parts is freed from the ropes and taken away from the ship’s path, and when it passes to the Kremlin side, then that part (of the bridge) is again brought to its place. There are always many ships docked here, bringing all kinds of supplies to Moscow... On this bridge there are shops where brisk trade takes place; there is a lot of traffic on it; we always go there for a walk...troops constantly move back and forth along it. All the city maids, servants and commoners come to this bridge to wash their clothes in the river, because the water here is high, level with the bridge.” The Moskvoretsky “living” bridge was located opposite the Water Gate of the Kitay-Gorod wall; in the second half of the 18th century. it was replaced with a wooden bridge on stilts.

Drawbridges were used in fortifications. The first chronicle indications of their structure date back to 1229: “...and the erection bridge and the zheravets vozhgosha...”, reports the Ipatiev Chronicle. The span adjacent to the city wall was made liftable and called an overhead bridge. The mechanism that set the bridge deck in motion consisted of a rocker arm rotating between the pillars (jeraves) and chains. In the 16th century The Kremlin bridges - Konstantino-Eleninsky, Spassky, Nikolsky - were connected to a lock system that regulated the filling of the ditch with water from the Neglinnaya River, and had a wooden lifting structure adopted for fortresses. In the 17th century Trinity Bridge had a lifting part.

Strengthening bridges. In the middle there are additional abutments. Below - the appropriate direction of the load using wheel guards (1 and 2) and reinforcement of the flooring (3 and 4).

The types of bridges described above are classified as movable bridges in their design. A fundamentally different type were permanent bridges. Depending on the number of supports on which the spans rested, they were classified as single-span or multi-span. Rowing bridges belong to the ancient type of single-span bridges; the first mention of them dates back to 977: in Vručia “rowing bridge”. Rowing took place in wide floodplains of rivers and was like a dirt road. In the middle part, a slot was left for the construction of a single-span bridge, the abutments of which were log supports filled with earth and stone. It is likely that the rows could also consist of solid log buildings with a slot in the middle part. At the end of the 19th century. L. F. Nikolai, analyzing the drawings of wooden bridges measured on the Arkhangelsk Highway in 1795, came to the conclusion: “A similar method of crossing wide floodplains of rivers is still used today...”. The bridges of the late 19th - early 20th centuries had a similar design. in the city of Yeniseisk (Fig. 2) and on the river. This in Arkhangelsk region(Fig. 3). The successive protruding logs of the bank abutments formed an almost arched structure. To prevent the bridge from floating up during floods, cobblestones were laid along the edges of the deck.

In the case when several holes were left in the log house for the entire height of the fence, a multi-span bridge was obtained with supports in the form of cages or gorodny (Subsequently, such supports began to be called ryazhi or bulls). To ensure the necessary degree of immobility and non-floatability, log houses-gorodni were, as a rule, filled with stones. Purlins made of logs were laid on top of the gorodnya in the longitudinal direction, and in turn, a continuous ramp of logs was laid on them in the transverse direction - the flooring of the roadway. The carpenters were required to create a strong support for the roadway, which at the same time could withstand the rapid flow of water during the spring flood. These tasks were complicated by the fact that the bridges reached significant sizes.

The people of Novgorod were famous for their skill as woodworkers. The famous Great Bridge across the river. Volkhov had supports in the form of towns and was built obliquely across the river (the width of Volkhov near Novgorod is about 250 m). Under 1133, the Novgorod First Chronicle reports: “In the same summer, the bridge across the Volkhovo was renewed and destroyed.” Since this date, chronicles have systematically reported damage to the city bridge by floods, storms, and ice drifts. There is a miniature from the Nikon Facial Chronicle of the 16th century, which depicts the Great Bridge, where the Strigolniks were executed in 1375.

Bridges, in addition to their main purpose - crossing over any obstacle, were used as street markets. There were benches on the Moskvoretsky Bridge, mentioned above. Resurrection Bridge on the river. Neglinke was a brick multi-span structure covered with a wooden pavement, and was built on both sides with two rows of chopped wooden trading benches. It was located at the Resurrection Gate of Kitay-Gorod and provided an exit from the city to Red Square near the current Historical Museum.

Stone-wooden bridges were logical in the system of defensive structures of the Kremlin. To prevent enemies from crossing the bridge, it was enough to dismantle or even burn the wooden decking of the bridge. Then he recovered easily.

Changes in the country's economy caused by the transformations of Peter I had a positive impact on the development of bridge construction. The construction of the capital at the mouth of the Neva required the construction of large quantity crossings in a relatively short time. The first bridge of the new city, built in 1705, was floating. Instead of rafts, barges were used there. Such bridges were built in St. Petersburg throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the most notable of them being St. Isaac's. Simultaneously with the floating ones, permanent bridges on pile supports were built across the canals. It is interesting to note the fact that at this time wooden bridges were often built according to “samples”, i.e. standard standard drawings. By 1748, there were about 40 wooden bridges in St. Petersburg, about half of which had drawbridges. On the river In Fontanka, according to the design of V.V. Rastrelli, an aqueduct was built, which, using a special machine, supplied water to the fountains of the Summer Garden.

An outstanding achievement of Russian technical thought of the 18th century. was a project by I.P. Kulibin. It was proposed to block the Neva with a huge wooden arch with a span of 294 m.

The most important and complex engineering structure among bridges are dam bridges, which are functionally connected to an entire system of hydraulic structures. From the end of the 17th century. the construction of waterways of national importance began, such as the Vyshne-Volotsk, Tikhvin, and Mariinsk systems. All hydraulic structures of these systems were wooden. In Vytegorsky local history museum types of dams and bridges of the Mariinsky system have been preserved. The St. Paul Dam (at the same time it served as a bridge), located on the river. Vytegra near the village. Devyatina, had a red-colored stepped drain, the difference in heights of the pool marks (the pool is a section of the river between two neighboring dams on the river) was 8.5 m. The Anninsky swing bridge on the river was of significant interest. Kovzha, it existed from 1810 to 1896. The middle support of the bridge had a rotating mechanism that could rotate along with the bridge spans by 90°, allowing oncoming ships free passage on both sides. In the city of Vytegra, there was a drawbridge on the connecting canal until 1961. It was built on pile supports. The middle part of the bridge had two lifting spans of different sizes. With the introduction of the Volga-Baltic waterway, the Mariinsky system was reconstructed with the replacement of wooden hydraulic structures with concrete ones.

Widespread construction of highways, and then railways in the 19th century led to the rise of bridge construction. A wide variety of structural systems of span structures appeared: braced, arched, trusses, etc. Issues of engineering construction in Russia of this period are beyond the scope of this article and deserve special consideration. With the introduction of new building materials (cast iron, concrete, steel, etc.), wooden bridges are gradually being replaced, and then in the central part of the USSR they almost completely disappear.

Modern timber bridge construction. In the North of the USSR, wooden bridge construction received the most striking and multifaceted development. The stability of northern life contributed to the transfer from generation to generation of the construction skills of folk architects, which is why examples of wooden bridges have been preserved here to this day. various types. What are the types of bridges that have survived and are currently under construction, what are their technical and design features?

Wooden bridges experience great physical and atmospheric influences, therefore, more often than other structures, they are subject to overhaul or replacement of individual parts, but at the same time, the original forms and structural basis remain the same, formed from the river regime and operating conditions. Thanks to these features, bridges, unlike other structures, retain their original shapes, which date back to ancient times.

Most in a simple way connections between the banks are ferry crossings. They are used with low traffic intensity. A raft, or pontoon, ferry moves manually along a rope thrown from bank to bank along the river bottom or over the water. For example, in the Arkhangelsk region, on the Onega and Moshe rivers, ancient ferry crossings have been preserved, which are currently in use. In cases where the construction of a bridge on permanent supports is expensive and cannot be justified by the cargo turnover, floating bridges are used. When the water horizon is high, all the rafts of such a bridge are afloat; when the water horizon is low, some of the rafts near the shore rest on the river bottom. With the onset of winter, these raft bridges have to be dismantled and put into backwaters, protected from floods and ice drift. In this case, communication between the shores in the winter occurs over ice. In Kargopol across the river. A pontoon bridge was thrown across Onega. In more remote areas, raft floating bridges have been preserved - in the village. Korovino on the river Kene and village Ust-Pocha in the Plesetsk district of the Arkhangelsk region.

4. Bridges in the village. Purnema, Arkhangelsk region. a - new bridge (1969), the solid structure of the bridge is not extended to the slope of the ravine; b - the ancient bridge (1927) has a solid log structure with logs laid “in the dir”

5. Cantilever-beam single-span bridge made of timber in the village. Gridino, Karelia

6. An ancient bridge with supports made of rectangular logs in the village of Verkhovskaya, Komi Republic (Photo by I. N. Shurgin)

7. Bridge with two triangular log houses in the village. Stupino Arch. region

Narrow obstacles, such as ravines and rivers, are covered by solid bridges. They consist of end-to-end rows of log buildings (ryazhevoy log house), connected in the transverse direction by the same rows of logs, forming a monolithic structure. This design, for example, has been preserved in the Arkhangelsk region on Kenozero in the village of Tarasovo. Ancient bridge in the village. Purnema in the Arkhangelsk region (Fig. 4, b) is built through a deep ravine (8 m); its flooring lies on a solid timber frame, filling the ditch to the very bottom. This method of cutting “in the dir” (It is necessary to distinguish the concept of a ryazhe log house or a ryazhe support from the felling “in the dir.” Ryazh is the accepted name for the construction of a bridge support. “Rezh” is a method of laying logs with gaps) protects the bridge from rotting and allows free let spring waters through. A hole is left in the middle part for free passage of water. The bridge has already fallen into disrepair, its edges have settled, since the bank of the slope is sandy. In 1969, next to the old bridge, a new one was built, similar in design, but the ryazhe frame was not completed to the end of the ditch (Fig. 4, a). The new wooden bridge is also of significant interest.

The most common type of bridge for small rivers is single-span beam bridges, such as in Ust-Tsilma of the Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. To increase the span between supports, a cantilever-beam structure is used - successively protruding logs of coastal abutments. Such a bridge in the village. Gridino of the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Fig. 5) was built across a stormy, rocky river, its foundations are littered with boulders.

For more wide rivers multi-span bridges are constructed, this is achieved by introducing intermediate supports: piles, ryazhevyh. In case of rocky or muddy soil, ryazhe supports are arranged, having different log shapes: three-, four-, five-sided and more complex.

Simple and more ancient supports are rectangular log houses. In the Komi ASSR, in the village of Verkhovskaya (Ust-Tsilmsky district), a bridge was built across the Domashny stream (Fig. 6), the flooring of which, without a fence, lies on four rectangular bull cages. The logs of the log houses are processed with an ax, laid “in the cut” and have large outlets.

In the Arkhangelsk region, in the village of Stupino (Nyandoma district), in 1967 a bridge was measured, the intermediate abutments of which have a triangular shape (Fig. 7), and the frame of the bulls is placed at an angle towards the river flow.

On rivers with ice drift, pentagonal-shaped ridges are arranged. A triangular appendage is cut into the rectangular frame of the bull, acting as an ice cutter. Wooden bridges with this type of frame are the most widespread and can reach significant sizes. In the village Shueretskoe Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Fig. 8) the bridge has eleven bulls, and its length is 150 m. In the village. Ryagovo (Kargopolye) with a bridge length of more than 100 m, the height of the ridge reaches 8 m (Fig. 9). (Today, a new concrete bridge has been built nearby.)

As a rule, ryazhe bridges have the original foundation of log houses, since wood survives in water for centuries. When replacing or rebuilding the top of the supports, their shapes are repeated. There are many similar bridges in the Arkhangelsk region in the direction Krechetovo-Kargopol-Oshevensk on the rivers Ukhta, Tikhmanga, Lekshma, Churiega. With the same design solutions, each of them has its own unique architectural and artistic image (Fig. 10).

8. The longest surviving wooden bridge (150 m) in the village. Shueretskoye, Karelia

9. Ryazhevoy bull of the bridge in the village. Ryagovo reaches a height of 8 m. (Arch. region)

North of Oshevensk, in the place where the river. Churiega flows into the river. Ken, in the 15th century. The Kenoretsky monastery was founded, which reached its heyday at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century. Large land acquisitions on both sides of the river date back to this time. Kens. In 1764 the monastery was abolished, and in 1800 a fire destroyed its buildings. The only witnesses of that time are two ryazhe bridges: in the village of Leshino (now the village of Kenoretskaya) (Fig. 11) and three kilometers downstream of the river, in the village of Pelyugino.

According to the ancient Russian tradition, at the entrance to the Pelyuginsky Bridge, on the elevated bank, there was a chapel on the basement, with a hipped belfry above the entrance, surrounded by a gallery (now transported to the Arkhangelsk Museum of Wooden Architecture "Little Karelia").

Back in 1946, an expedition from the Institute of History and Theory of Architecture of the USSR Academy of Architecture explored Kargopolye. One of the most important results of her work was the measurements of the Ken bridges carried out by A.V. Opolovnikov. In 1982, the author of the article carried out repeated surveys and measurements, which showed that, despite the almost complete replacement of building materials, the shape and design of the bridges had not changed. Honed over centuries, these forms have proven to be very stable.

The structural basis of Ken bridges is the same. The five-span bridge near the village of Leshino has a length of 114 m, the four-span bridge near the village of Pelyugino has a length of 84 m. Their design is unique, each middle ridge consists of a rectangular frame with triangular and trapezoidal cuts protruding from its lower part; so that the entire outline of the plan resembles the shape of a boat. The bottom here is rocky, the river flow is very fast, so the frame of the ryazh is littered with boulders. To destroy the resulting thrust and to uniformly fill the bull with boulders in the transverse and longitudinal directions on different levels log houses have ligated crowns, forming a system of internal triangular “pockets”. The upper tetrahedral base of the bull forms rolls on the log outlets, which makes it possible to increase the spans to 15 m.

12. Ryazhevoy bridge with triangular shape on the river Keme (Vologda region) A combination of folk traditions and engineering techniques (Photo by Sevan O. G.)

Unlike civil structures, bridges do not have a shell - walls, ceilings that hide the supporting structure. Therefore, the structural system of the bridges remains open and forms the basis of the architectural composition. Bridges are rarely subjected to artistic treatment; their architectural expressiveness is achieved by the boldness of constructive solutions, the originality of spatial composition and various wood processing techniques. The most interesting engineering and architectural structure is the bridge across the river. Kema in the Vytegorsky district of the Vologda region. Its distinctive feature - a triangular log truss - significantly enriches the volumetric composition: it is arranged “in space” in the deeper part of the river, which allows increasing the span length (Fig. 12). Another example is the bridge in the village. Umba Murmansk region. Its bright artistic expressiveness is achieved by the log struts of the spans and the X-shaped frame of the bridge handrails (Fig. 13).

Any wooden bridge, having its own special artistic image, is also part of environment: landscape or residential development. In the Oshevensky complex of villages located along the Churiega and Khaluy rivers, wooden bridges are an important element of the planning structure and, together with unique religious, residential and outbuildings form a harmonious whole.

The city of Belomorsk (formerly the village of Soroka) can be considered a kind of “reserve” of wooden bridges. The old part of the city is built of wood and does not have unique architectural monuments, but nature itself has made it unusually picturesque. When it flows into the White Sea, the Vyg River overcomes many rapids and, spilling over several kilometers, forms about forty islands, on which the village of Soroka was once located. In these natural conditions bridges have become a necessary element of intracity communication. In the relatively small old territory of the city there are about twenty of them (Fig. 14). Unfortunately, several bridges have been lost; the longest among them (more than 300 m) was replaced with a concrete one. But all the existing bridges, merging with the space of the river, and the buildings along with the rapids created a unique image of this city.

The idea of ​​wooden bridge construction at the present time would be incomplete without noting some surviving types of purely “engineering” bridges, among which beam bridges with pile supports of various combinations with frame and strut systems are the most widely used. Multi-span beam bridge on the river. Tartas in the Novosibirsk region (50s of the XX century) has a two- and four-row system of pile supports (Fig. 15). In the transverse direction, the pillars of the support frame have diagonal contractions, and the entire structure of the supports is secured with steel bolts and pins. The purlins are laid on the supports, and in turn, the roadway deck is laid on them. The length of the bridge is 66 m. Ice cutters 11 m long are installed in front of the middle supports.

An important component of a bridge with piles and frame supports are wooden ice cutters. To protect the supports and spans from shocks when struck by ice floes, ice cutters are not connected to the bridge supports. Narrow supports are protected by flat ice cutters having one or two rows of piles. For wide supports, tent ice cutters are used, consisting of several rows of piles. Ice floes approaching the ice cutter, under the influence of inertial forces and water pressure, rise along it and break under the influence of their own weight.

There are still wooden bridges with trusses, which were widely used since the mid-19th century. Gau-Zhuravsky truss spans are the most common design of wooden bridges. This bridge was built in 1967 on the river. Moshe in the Arkhangelsk region (Fig. 16). The channel spans of the bridge are blocked by spans with trusses with a ride on the bottom (design span 31.5 m). The outer spans are covered with spans of a simple beam system with two-tier purlins. The length of the bridge is 146 m. ​​The channel pile supports are protected by free-standing tent ice cutters.

Another type is bridges with a braced system. In the Plesetsk district of the Arkhangelsk region there is a wooden overpass (a bridge designed to pass one road over another), built in 1939 on the Plesetsk-Kargopol highway, which passes over the railway local significance, forming an oblique intersection of 42°. The three-span bridge has frame supports on a support base (Fig. 17). The two middle supports are completed with a combined braced system, which made it possible to create a middle span. The design of the overpass is typical for bridge structures of the 19th - early 20th centuries. and now practically never occurs. Although the bridge is in good condition, it is in danger of being destroyed.

Currently, there is another type of single-span bridges - suspension bridges, found in the Arkhangelsk region. The bridge in the village of Papinskaya, Konosha district (Fig. 18) has the following structure: on both banks of the river there are two log houses with passage gates at the upper level, metal cables are stretched along the top and bottom of the openings of the log house, secured to the ground with metal crutches. Along the entire length of the bridge, the upper and lower cables are connected to each other by wooden blocks (acting as hangers); wooden flooring is laid on the lower cables. On both sides of the log houses there are boardwalks. On the river Emtse in the village. Emtsa, Arkhangelsk region, the suspension bridge of the hydrometeorological service was built in 1928 (see side 4 of the cover). The simple design creates a beautiful silhouette against the background of the river, giving lightness to the entire structure. Suspension bridges, widely used since the mid-19th century, are now rare.

Wooden engineering bridges were the predecessors of structures made of steel and concrete and in their time played a certain historical role. It seemed that with the development of professional engineering bridge construction, with the introduction of various new structural systems - strutted, arched, suspended, etc. - they were supposed to finally replace the ryazhe, folk bridges, displace them. However, this did not happen.

Folk wooden bridges, having a long history, are examples of the stability of architectural form, which have been precisely worked out by many generations of builders, carpenters, and folk architects.

In our age technical progress The widespread replacement of wooden bridges with modern steel and concrete ones is leading to the disappearance in some places of this type of structure. At the same time, in the North of the USSR and in Siberia, where timber is the main building material, wooden bridges continue to be built, especially since wood is a cheap building material that can be quickly harvested and processed, allowing construction to be carried out in the most short terms. Wooden bridge structures, reflecting the ancient culture of the Russian people, connect times and generations; They are still of practical importance today and are a valuable contribution to cultural heritage our Motherland.

8. Laskovsky F. F. Materials for the history of engineering art in Russia. St. Petersburg, 1858. Part 1.

9. Novgorod first chronicle of the older and younger editions of M.; L., 1950.

10. Punin A.L. The Tale of Leningrad Bridges. L., 1971.

11. Zabella S. Kargopol expedition. - In the book: Architectural heritage. M., 1955, No. 5.

Bridges are unusually attractive creations. Each bridge has its own character and history. Some, of course, are not so large-scale and mean something only to surrounding residents. But there are bridges that have gone down in history. We can talk endlessly about bridges, so we can show only some of the endless variety of these almost living creatures.

We begin our journey in France. The need to build a bridge in Paris became clear in the middle of the 16th century. The structures that existed at that time had already become decrepit under the influence of active traffic and required replacement. At the same time, it was customary to set up craft workshops and trading shops on bridges; there were money changers, jewelers, and furniture forging took place (the best examples of which can still be found today). People first started talking about the New Bridge in 1556, began construction in 1578, and completed it in 1607. The main difference was that it was the first bridge with sidewalks and there were no shops or houses on it. By the way, it was precisely this idea of ​​the builder kings that caused the greatest resistance among traders.

2. Le Viaduc de Millau

The Tarn River cuts France from east to west. With the growth of the population, the flow in the south-north direction also increased every year, especially in the summer along the highway leading to Spain and Southern France. The only crossing over the Tarnot was a bridge in the suburb of Millau. Huge traffic jams, exhaust pipe emissions - no one enjoyed it. And after 10 years of research, a place for construction was chosen and a cable-stayed bridge across the Tarn was armed. This object broke several records at once. First of all, it has the highest road surface (270 m), the viaduct has the highest supports (244.91 m) and supports with pylons (343 m). In addition, this bridge is simply beautiful; its fencing is made of translucent materials, which allows travelers to enjoy picturesque views of the Tarn Valley.

Prague's Charles Bridge connected the Lesser Town and the Old Town at the beginning of the 15th century. Construction began in 1357 by order of the Emperor Charles IV. There are 30 sculptures on this unique bridge. There is an interesting belief that it was from the Charles Bridge that Saint John of Nepomut was thrown. In that very place there is now a cross and a pair of copper nails. According to legend, if you touch the cross, then any wish you make will come true.

This bridge is difficult to confuse with any other. Tower Bridge was built in just eight years (1886-1894). The carriageway of the bridge can be opened to allow passage of ships. But a suspension bridge was built on top at a height of 40 m for pedestrians. True, these galleries were quickly inhabited by pickpockets and prostitutes, and after 25 years the authorities closed access to this part of the bridge. Now (since 1982) the galleries are again available to the public as a museum and observation deck. Another interesting point is related to the support towers. In fact, these are metal structures. But on the outside, to protect them from corrosion, they were lined with stone, as a result the bridge took on such a solid Gothic appearance.

5. Szechenyi lanchid

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge to connect Pest and Buda. At the time of completion of construction in 1849, it was considered one of the wonders of the world - the bridge had the longest span of 202 m. During the war, the bridge was completely destroyed, and in 1949 it was rebuilt again. There are many legends and anecdotes associated with the bridge. The stone lions at the entrance to the bridge are especially loved by the residents of Budapest. They said that they did not have tongues, although they were simply not visible from below due to the high position of the animals. They also say that lions should roar the moment a man who has never cheated on his wife passes by. What is significant is that the lions are still silent...

6. Ponte di Rialto

Let's continue our journey across bridges in Italy. Here they know how to handle their history and know what to do even with outdated buildings, as in the article. Our first stop in Venice is at the very first bridge over the Grand Canal. This bridge was first built of wood in 1255, but during an uprising it was burned in 1310. The bridge was restored, but in 1444 it could not withstand the weight of the crowd and collapsed, then there was a drawbridge version, which also did not survive. And since 1591, the bridge acquired its current appearance in the hands of the architect Antonio de Ponte. On the Rialto Bridge there are 24 shops with the most expensive Venetian souvenirs.

7. Ponte dei Sospiri

The no less famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice is a covered structure with a roof and walls. At the beginning of the 17th century, it connected the prison and the Doge's Palace with an interrogation room and a courtroom. The name was formed from the suffering of prisoners who could see hometown for the last time from the windows of the bridge on the way to prison. Now it is believed that if lovers swim under a bridge at sunset and kiss, their passion will be eternal.

8. Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio in Florence has ancient predecessors. The first bridge was built on this site back in the days Ancient Rome, then there were 2 more bridges until this structure was built in 1345. To this day, the bridge retains its original outline. By the way, once on the bridge there were shops and houses of butchers, who were replaced by jewelers in the 16th century. Another interesting detail is the corridor above the buildings, which allowed the Grand Dukes to freely pass between their residences: Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Vecchio.

In just 9 years, Suleiman the Magnificent built this bridge in Mostar across the Neretva. 420 years had passed since the Ottoman occupation and the bridge was still standing. It was destroyed only in 1993, during the Yugoslav conflict. In 2004, the bridge was restored and became a symbol of reconciliation.

10. Chapel Bridge

In Lucerne, Switzerland business card is the Chapel Bridge. Back in 1365, this wooden bridge was erected, which played a significant role in the city’s defensive system. The Kapellbrücke was designed in the form of a covered gallery, under the roof of which there were 111 triangular paintings. After the fire of 1993, most of them perished, but were later restored based on available inventories and photographs.

11. Anghel Saligny Bridge

Cernavoda Fetesti was built in Romania in 1895. At the time of construction, it held the length record - 4037 m. The bridge rises 30 m above the waters of the Danube and allows any ships to pass under it. In 1987, a new bridge was built nearby, and the old one was completely given over to tourists.

The Erasmus Bridge was built in 1996 in Rotterdam. The design is modern and very unusual. The cable-stayed bridge has a length of 808 m, at one end there is a draw span (the heaviest and largest in Western Europe). For its characteristic silhouette, the bridge received the name Swan.
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