Bridges give a special flair to cities depending on their architectural style.Not all bridges are just a convenient construction to connect two points by spanning a river or valley. Some of them rank among the world’s most iconic sights and millions of tourist flock to see them every year. The following 10 bridges are jewels of architecture and marvels of technology that have become landmarks in their own right..Bridges are more than just a way to connect 2 points. They are an opportunity for architects and engineers to collaborate on a beautiful structure that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The following 10 bridges are stunning works of art that have become landmarks in their own right, and millions of tourists flock to see them every year.The world’s most famous bridges may not be the longest bridges, tallest bridges or highest bridges, but they are the most recognizable bridges in the world by far. Here are the top 10 most famous bridges:10 – The Pont du Gard Bridge
Back in the days, this bridge was in fact an aqueduct system that transported water to the Roman city of Nemausus and is a testament to the unbelievable building skills of the Romans. Built more than 2000 years ago, the Pont du Gard descends only 56 feet over 30 miles and was able to deliver around 5 million gallons of water to the city every day.The bridge has three tiers of arches, stands 48.8 m (160 ft) high, and descends a mere 2.5 centimetres (1 in) – a gradient of only 1 in 18,241 – while the whole aqueduct descends in height by only 17 m (56 ft) over its entire length, which is indicative of the great precision that Roman engineers were able to achieve, using simple technology. The aqueduct formerly carried an estimated 200,000 m3 (44,000,000 imp gal) of water a day to the fountains, baths and homes of the citizens of Nîmes. It may have been in use as late as the 6th century, with some parts used for significantly longer, but a lack of maintenance after the 4th century led to clogging by mineral deposits and debris that eventually choked off the flow of water. After the Roman Empire collapsed and the aqueduct fell into disuse, the Pont du Gard remained largely intact, due to the importance of its secondary function, as a toll bridge. For centuries the local lords and bishops were responsible for its upkeep, in exchange for the right to levy tolls on travellers using it to cross the river, although some of its stones were looted and serious damage was inflicted on it in the 17th century. It attracted increasing attention starting in the 18th century, and became an important tourist destination.09 – Chengyang Bridge, Sanjiang County, China
Built by the Dong people of China, this outstanding bridge was constructed using only stone and wood. The ‘wind and rain’ bridges are proofs of architectural brilliance, and all are built without a single nail or bolt to hold them together. They highlight the uniqueness of the Chinese architecture and they are worth watching.The bridge is a combination of bridge, corridor, veranda and Chinese pavilion. It has two platforms (one at each end of the bridge), 3 piers, 3 spans, 5 pavilions, 19 verandas, and three floors.[1] The piers are made of stone, the upper structures are mainly wooden, and the roof is covered with tiles. The bridge has wooden handrails on both sides. The bridge has a total length of 64.4 metres (211 ft), and its corridor has a width of 3.4 metres (11 ft). The net height above the river is about 10 metres (33 ft)The bridge is located in Chengyang, and serves as the link between two populous villages. As a result, there is substantial daily traffic on the bridge.
Guo Moruo, a famous Chinese author, loved the bridge at first sight and wrote a poem for it
Let’s face it! No visit to London is complete without a photo looking out of the river Thames.this symbol of London is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, over the River Thames.The current bridge stands at the western end of the Pool of London but is positioned 30 metres (98 ft) upstream from previous alignments. The traditional ends of the medieval bridge were marked by St Magnus-the-Martyr on the northern bank and Southwark Cathedral on the southern shore. Until Putney Bridge opened in 1729, London Bridge was the only road-crossing of the Thames downstream of Kingston-upon-Thames. Its importance has been the subject of popular culture throughout the ages such as in the nursery rhyme "London Bridge Is Falling Down" and its inclusion within art and literature.The modern bridge is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, an independent charity overseen by the City of London Corporation. It carries the A3 road, which is maintained by the Greater London Authority.[2] The crossing also delineates an area along the southern bank of the River Thames, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, that has been designated as a business improvement district It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name. Both the bridge and the castle next to it are one of the most visited monuments not only in London or England, but in Europe and even the entire world. It’s safe to argue that London bridge is the most popular landmark England. The bridge is a symbol of pride for the British people, as it reminds them of the rich Victorian history.you can also see this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOTj2C9wfAE
07 – The Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy
Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy – The oldest of four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice.Maintenance was vital for the timber bridge. It was partly burnt in the revolt led by Bajamonte Tiepolo in 1310. In 1444, it collapsed under the weight of a crowd watching a boat parade and it collapsed again in 1524.The idea of rebuilding the bridge in stone was first proposed in 1503. Several projects were considered over the following decades. In 1551, the authorities requested proposals for the renewal of the Rialto Bridge, among other things. Plans were offered by famous architects, such as Jacopo Sansovino, Palladio and Vignola, but all involved a Classical approach with several arches, which was judged inappropriate to the situation. Michelangelo also was considered as designer of the bridge.The present stone bridge, a single span designed by Antonio da Ponte, was finally completed in 1591. It is similar to the wooden bridge it succeeded. Two inclined ramps lead up to a central portico. On either side of the portico, the covered ramps carry rows of shops. The engineering of the bridge was considered so audacious that architect Vincenzo Scamozzi predicted future ruin. The bridge has defied its critics to become one of the architectural icons of Venice It was completed in 1591, replacing a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524. The beautiful old bridge is one of the icons of Venice and one of its best attractions and is always packed with excited tourists, the Rialto Bridge has a unique arched shape and it is like a magnet for tourists wanting to take romantic pictures. The bridge offers an amazing view of the gondola boats with their singing gondoliers, that create the perfect atmosphere.06 – Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy
Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy – The “old bridge” is a medieval stone arch bridge, famous for still having shops built along it as was once common. It is the only bridge in Florence to survive the second world war. In the past, the shops were owned by butchers, but today the shops are mostly owned by souvenir sellers as well as art dealers and jewelers. The bridge is one of the most famous attractions in Florence.The bridge consists of three segmental arches: the main arch has a span of 30 meters (98 feet) the two side arches each span 27 meters (89 feet). The rise of the arches is between 3.5 and 4.4 meters (11½ to 14½ feet), and the span-to-rise ratio.Damage shown shortly after liberation in August 1944 during World War II.It has always hosted shops and merchants who displayed their goods on tables before their premises, after authorization of the Bargello (a sort of a lord mayor, a magistrate and a police authority). The back shops (retrobotteghe) that may be seen from upriver, were added in the seventeenth century.It is said that the economic concept of bankruptcy originated here: when a money-changer could not pay his debts, the table on which he sold his wares (the "banco") was physically broken ("rotto") by soldiers, and this practice was called "bancorotto" (broken table; possibly it can come from "banca rotta" which means "broken bank"). Not having a table anymore, the merchant was not able to sell anything.During World War II, the Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by Germans during their retreat on the advance of the liberating British 8th Army on August 4, 1944, unlike all other bridges in Florence. This was allegedly, according to many locals and tour guides, because of an express order by Hitler. Access to Ponte Vecchio was, however, obstructed by the destruction of the buildings at both ends, which have since been rebuilt using a combination of original and modern design This beautiful medieval bridge spans the Arno River and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Florence. The bridge features a multitude of shops selling souvenirs, jewellery and luxury items, which makes it a very busy and animated place.05 – Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge, New York, United States – Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It connects Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. It has a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m) which made it longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903. It has become one of the icons on New York from its opening day and it’s still one of the city’s major attractions. All day long you can spot tourists crossing the 5,989 feet (1825 m) bridge by foot while taking pictures of the beautiful bridge with the skyline of ManhattanThe iconic Brooklyn Bridge has an interesting history behind its construction, and its original designer John Roebling spent almost 15 years convincing the city council to let him realise his dream of building the world’s longest suspension bridge. Unfortunately, Roebling died before construction could begin so his son Washington Roebling took responsibility until he too became ill, and the bridge was eventually completed by Washington’s wife Emily.Although the Brooklyn Bridge is technically a suspension bridge, it uses a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge design. The towers are built of limestone, granite, and Rosendale cement. The limestone was quarried at the Clark Quarry in Essex County, New York. The granite blocks were quarried and shaped on Vinalhaven Island, Maine, under a contract with the Bodwell Granite Company, and delivered from Maine to New York by schooner.The bridge was built with numerous passageways and compartments in its anchorages. New York City rented out the large vaults under the bridge's Manhattan anchorage in order to fund the bridge. Opened in 1876, the vaults were used to store wine, as they were always at 60 °F (16 °C). This was called the "Blue Grotto" because of a shrine to the Virgin Mary next to an opening at the entrance. When New York visited one of the cellars about 102 years later, in 1978, it discovered, on the wall, a "fading inscription" reading: "Who loveth not wine, women and song, he remaineth a fool his whole life long04 – Helix Bridge, Marina Bay area, Singapore
One of the most modern bridges in the world, Helix Bridge is made of Glass and steel mesh and it is one of the main touristic attractions in Singapore. People all over the world were impressed by this amazing bridge. At night, it is illuminates in shades of blue, which complement perfectly the hi-tech city of Singapore.The design consortium is an international team comprising Australian architects the Cox Architecture and engineers Arup, and Singapore based Architects 61.Canopies (made of fritted-glass and perforated steel mesh) are incorporated along parts of the inner spiral to provide shade for pedestrians. The bridge has four viewing platforms sited at strategic locations which provide stunning views of the Singapore skyline and events taking place within Marina Bay.[3] At night, the bridge will be illuminated by a series of lights that highlight the double-helix structure, thereby creating a special visual experience for the visitors.Pairs of coloured letters c and g, as well as a and t on the bridge which are lit up at night in red and green represent cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine, the four bases of DNA. The intentional left handed DNA-like design, which is the opposite of normal DNA on earth, earned it a place in The Left Handed DNA Hall of Fame in 2010.The Land Transport Authority claimed it is a world first in architectural and engineering bridge design.[6] It won the 'World's Best Transport Building' award at the World Architecture Festival Awards in the same year. It has also been recognised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) at the BCA Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Awards in 201103 – Millau Viaduct Bridge, Midi-Pyrénées, France
Millau Viaduct, Millau, France – With a structure height of 343 meters (1,125 ft) the Millau Viaduct Bridge is the tallest bridge in the world! Opened in 2004, this four lanes bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. The bridge has seven piers of different heights. The second one is the tallest with a height of 244.96 m (803 ft 8 in) – making it the tallest structure in France, taller than the Eiffel Tower! This project was a collaboration between a French and an English Architect and the results were much appreciated by experts and tourists. Built in 2004, this elegant bridge has become a symbol of pride to the French population. At 1125 feet, it is considered to be the world’s tallest bridge and runs through some of the most beautiful areas of the French countryside.Because of problems with traffic on the route from Paris to Spain along the stretch passing through the Tarn valley near the town of Millau, leading to congestion in the summer from holiday traffic, construction of a bridge to span the valley was required.[12] The first plans were discussed in 1987 by CETE, and by October 1991, the decision was made to build a high crossing of the Tarn River by a structure of around 2,500 m (8,200 ft) in length. During 1993–1994 the government consulted with seven architects and eight structural engineers. During 1995–1996, a second definition study was made by five associated architect groups and structural engineers. In January 1995, the government issued a declaration of public interest to solicit design approaches for a competition02 – Khaju Bridge,Isfahan, Iran
This beautiful structure was built in the 17th century by Shah Abbas II, and is still a fully functioning dam that carries water to the gardens along the Zayandeh River. The centre of the bridge features 2 large pavilions that were originally reserved for the Shah but are now open to the public. A real magnet for tourists.Serving as both a bridge, and a dam (or a weir), it links the Khaju quarter on the north bank with the Zoroastrian quarter across the Zayandeh River. Although architecturally functioning as a bridge and a weir, it also served a primary function as a building[2] and a place for public meetings. This structure was originally decorated with artistic tilework and paintings, and served as a teahouse. In the center of the structure, a pavilion exists inside which Shah Abbas would have once sat, admiring the view.Today, remnants of a stone seat is all that is left of the king's chair. This bridge is one of the finest examples of Persian architecture at the height of Safavid cultural influence in Iran. In words of Upham Pope and Jean Chardin, Khaju bridge is "the culminating monument of Persian bridge architecture and one of the most interesting bridges extant...where the whole has rhythm and dignity and combines in the happiest consistency, utility, beauty, and recreation.01 – Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA
This world famous symbol of the West Coast of the United States and the most popular attraction of San Francisco has a main span of 1,280 meters (4,199 ft) which makes it around the 11th longest span in the world. The 11th place may not sound much, but taking into consideration that the bridge opened in 1937 makes it quite remarkable as the other top 10 were built during the last 10-20 years. The Golden Gate bridge is located in San Francisco and is perhaps the city’s most famous attraction. With the view of the bay around it, it is truly a sight to see.Strauss was chief engineer in charge of overall design and construction of the bridge project. However, because he had little understanding or experience with cable-suspension designs, responsibility for much of the engineering and architecture fell on other experts. Strauss's initial design proposal (two double cantilever spans linked by a central suspension segment) was unacceptable from a visual standpoint. The final graceful suspension design was conceived and championed by Leon Moisseiff, the engineer of the Manhattan Bridge in New York City.Irving Morrow, a relatively unknown residential architect, designed the overall shape of the bridge towers, the lighting scheme, and Art Deco elements, such as the tower decorations, streetlights, railing, and walkways. The famous International Orange color was originally used as a sealant for the bridge. The US Navy had wanted it to be painted with black and yellow stripes to ensure visibility by passing ships.Senior engineer Charles Alton Ellis, collaborating remotely with Moisseiff, was the principal engineer of the project. Moisseiff produced the basic structural design, introducing his "deflection theory" by which a thin, flexible roadway would flex in the wind, greatly reducing stress by transmitting forces via suspension cables to the bridge towers. Although the Golden Gate Bridge design has proved sound, a later Moisseiff design, the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, collapsed in a strong windstorm soon after it was completed, because of an unexpected aeroelastic flutter. Ellis was also tasked with designing a "bridge within a bridge" in the southern abutment, to avoid the need to demolish Fort Point, a pre-Civil War masonry fortification viewed, even then, as worthy of historic preservation. He penned a graceful steel arch spanning the fort and carrying the roadway to the bridge's southern anchorage
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