It took 80 men to build the Royal Gorge Bridge in 1929 and, unbelievably, they completed it within just seven months. Even more astonishing than the speed with which America’s highest suspension bridge went up were the risks they took to build it. The bridge deck soars 956 feet (291m) above the Arkansas River, and the structure comprises 300 tonnes of cables, 1,292 wooden planks and 1,000 tonnes of steel in the bridge floor. It’s been coined ‘America’s Bridge’ and is a top tourist attraction, complete with a zipline, aerial gondola and high-adrenaline Royal Rush Skycoaster.
Unsurprisingly, the Old Seven Mile Bridge was among the world’s longest when it was first completed in 1912. Masterminded by Henry Flagler, it was part of the Overseas Railroad, or East Coast railway, and linked mainland Florida with the furthermost isle of Key West. Dubbed the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, this iconic bridge was partly destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and the new Seven Mile Bridge (which runs alongside it) was completed in 1982.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct has become one of the most photographed bridges in Scotland. The bridge appeared in multiple Harry Potter films and fans flock here to take the heritage steam train journey across it each summer. Its picturesque location, on the shores of Loch Shiel, makes for a dramatic setting. Dating back to 1897, this 21-arch viaduct was originally built to carry materials across the River Finnan until the railway line was added in 1901, connecting Fort William to Mallaig. Overlooking the historic Glenfinnan Monument, it stretches for more than 1,200 feet (380m) across the West Highlands.
Hailed as one of the world’s most impressive feats of engineering, the Brooklyn Bridge is among New York's iconic landmarks. It was built across the city’s East River from 1869 (completed in 1883), and creator John Augustus Roebling was lauded for his innovative use of steel cables. In fact, he gained a reputation for building some of the most impressive suspension bridges in the world. The structure links the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn and, at 1,595 feet (486m), was the longest of its kind at the time.
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Spanning the Grand River in Ontario’s Waterloo region, the West Montrose Covered Bridge is the oldest of its kind in Canada. Reaching a length of around 200 feet (61m), it has unique red panelling and a gable roof – the brainchild of Mennonite barn builder John Bear. It was constructed using local oak and white pine in 1881 and, although it has undergone various repairs, it has maintained its design. Many people call it the ‘Kissing Bridge’ as it’s thought that travellers used to sneak a kiss while passing through.
Pittsburgh is known for its bridges (it has 440, after all). But this one, soaring across the Monongahela River, is not only the city’s oldest river bridge, it’s also the longest, with two spans of around 360 feet (110m). Built between 1881 and 1883, it was designed by Gustav Lindenthal (also behind New York’s Hell Gate Bridge), who made history for his innovative use of steel, a relatively new material at the time. Although this historic truss bridge has been altered over time, it's now a National Historic Landmark.
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Stunning and intriguing in equal measure, the Rakotz bridge, or Rakotzbrücke, has become a widely photographed sight in Germany’s Kromlau Park. Built in 1860, the rather impractical (and hazardous) design has earned this striking stone archway the nickname ‘Devil’s Bridge’ and crossing it today is out of the question. That said, you can’t deny its beauty, especially on a clear day when its curve is reflected in the Rakotzsee River’s waters.
Made using the roots of rubber trees, these enchanting walkways, known as living root trees, were masterminded by the Khasi people. The northeast Indian tribe turned to this innovative method as they needed to form bridges that could withstand the monsoon season’s torrential rainfall. Training the tree roots to ‘knit’ together over a period of 15 to 30 years, they formed various natural bridges including the oldest – and most impressive – the Jingkieng Nongriat or the Umshiang root bridge. Located in the village of Nongriat, this double-decker suspension bridge is thought to date back 180 years.
Also known as the ‘Horseshoe Bridge’, this sandstone archway in Western Sydney was once the main route for people travelling to the Blue Mountains. Constructed across Lapstone Creek in the 1830s by experienced stonemason David Lennox, it's now the oldest surviving stone arch bridge on the Australian mainland. Several restoration projects have been undertaken on this 30-foot (9m) high structure, and it's still in use today.
There are myriad stories behind Richmond Bridge in Tasmania. Not only is it the oldest stone archway bridge still standing in Australia, it’s also been named the spookiest. Completed in 1825 by prisoners of the nearby Richmond Gaol, the 135-foot (41m) long bridge is purportedly haunted by the ghost of a former convict named George Grover, who is said to peer out from the structure when people cross. Amazingly, very few repairs have been carried out in its 200-year history and it’s considered one of Australia’s greatest heritage sites.
You’ll find a few historic bridges in New Jersey’s Somerset County but this triple-arched structure, also known as the Mill Pond Bridge, is the most notable. Dating back to the 1820s, it was built using random field stones and is a treasured part of the Bridgepoint Historic District, a former village known for its clapboard grist mill and 18th- and 19th-century farmsteads. Although it’s had some modern-day repointing, it remains an excellent example of 19th-century stone masonry.
Whichever moniker you know this bridge by (it’s also called the Pennypack Creek Bridge, the Pennypack Bridge, the King’s Highway Bridge and the Holmesburg Bridge), it's a prized part of Philadelphia’s history. Built in 1697 on the request of Pennsylvania founder William Penn, it served a key role in linking Philadelphia to other cities such as Boston and New York. Today, this 73-foot (22m) long structure is thought to be the oldest surviving roadway bridge in America. George Washington, the first American president, also crossed it on the day of his presidential inauguration.
Out of the several stone bridges that traverse the Nakashima River, this one is the most celebrated. Named after the Japanese word for spectacles (due to the image it creates when reflected in the water), this double-arched bridge was built by a Chinese monk of the Kofukuji Temple named Mozi (or Nyojo) in 1634, and later inspired the double (or Nijubashi) bridge of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Meganebashi lies in the Teramachi area of the city and is famed for being the oldest (and most culturally important) stone arch bridge in Japan.
Situated around six miles (10km) from the Bulgarian town of Ardino, the medieval Devil’s Bridge, or Dyavolski Most, dates back to 1515. Built upon the remains of a Roman bridge, the 183-foot (56m) structure formed a link between the Aegean region and the Northern Thracian valley. And while its arching structure, over the Arda River, is idyllic, it's steeped in dark myths and legends. Some people say you can see the devil’s face in the waters between 11am and midday, while others claim there’s a devil’s footprint on the bridge itself.
Crossing the River Reuss, Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, is a striking landmark and prized attraction in the pretty town of Lucerne. Dating back more than 650 years, this pedestrian walkway – which also flanks the stunning Lake Lucerne and is joined by the famed Water Tower – tragically caught fire in 1993. Many of the 17th-century frescoes that adorned the gables of the bridge were destroyed. Large parts of it had to be rebuilt, but it’s still considered the oldest – and perhaps the most loved – covered bridge in Europe.
Recognised the world over, the 16th-century Rialto Bridge, or Ponte di Rialto, is the oldest bridge in Venice. It crosses the narrowest point of the Grand Canal and the present structure was designed by Antonio da Ponte and his nephew in 1591. Today, the bridge connects the areas of San Marco and San Polo and it has become a much-loved tourist attraction, admired for its beautiful stone arch and quaint arcade of shops.
Originally built to carry packhorse traffic and foot passengers, ancient clapper bridges are quite a rare sighting, with less than 50 recorded in the UK. This one – which comprises 17 flat sandstone slabs across the River Barle in Exmoor – is thought to be the longest, and the oldest. Although some people believe the bridge originated from the Bronze Age, experts say it was probably built between the 13th and 15th century. Today, the 180-foot (55m) medieval crossing is still in use and is a much-visited attraction in Exmoor National Park.
Connecting the UNESCO-listed Regensburg city with the historic island of Stadtamhof, the Old Stone Bridge (or Steinerne Brücke) is a medieval relic in eastern Bavaria. Crossing the River Danube, this 12th-century bridge (built between 1135 and 1146) was constructed during a particularly prosperous era. And although the bridge had to be repaired after the Second World War, the charming medieval town came out reasonably unscathed. Today, the 1,017-foot (310m) walkway is hailed as the oldest stone arch bridge in the country.
Connecting the mainland with the tiny islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, this enthralling ocean walkway in Spain’s Basque Country is one of the most unique – and oldest – bridges in the country. Comprising more than 200 steps, these mysterious ‘Stairs above the Sea’ were constructed in the 11th century by the Knights Templar and although modern additions have been made, the bridge has been used by pilgrims for centuries. Once visitors reach the 10th-century monastery of the tiny hamlet, they’re advised to ring the bell three times and make a wish.
Dubbed the ‘crescent moon rising from the clouds’ in ancient Chinese literature, the Zhaozhou Bridge – also known as the Anchi or Anji bridge; Dashi bridge or Dashiqiao bridge – has been used to cross the Xiao River since around AD 605. Constructed using limestone during the time of the Chinese Sui Dynasty, it spans 167 feet (51m) and has a striking 'open-spandrel', segmental arch design (a feature that didn’t reach Europe until around seven centuries later). That makes it the oldest of its kind.
Occupying one of the world’s most ancient cities, the Old Bridge of Dezful in southwestern Iran, also known as ‘Rumi Bridge’, is one of Khuzestan’s most treasured monuments. Dating back to AD 260, it's thought the bridge was built by Sassanid King Shapur II, who used some 70,000 Roman prisoners of war to carry out the labour with sarooj (a mix of lime and clay). Although some additions have been made to the pedestrian-only bridge, there are 14 original arches still in place and the heritage-listed walkway has been named one of the most ancient brick bridges in the world.
Close to the ancient city of Limyra in southwest Turkey, this third-century bridge spanning the Alakır Çayı river is partly buried by river sediment, but you can still see an example of the arches that were built all those years ago. Located in an old Lycian dynastic seat, the bridge – also known as Kırkgöz Kemeri, or the ‘Bridge of the Forty Arches’ – is characterised by its unusually flat profile which spreads out for some 1,181 feet (360m). Today, it’s one of the oldest segmented arch bridges in the world.
Soaring majestically over the Moselle River, The Roman Bridge in Trier is one of the city’s most impressive monuments. And while its red brick archways and road were added in the 1700s, the original stone base dates back to the 2nd century. Built by the Roman General Agrippa, it was made up of large basalt blocks from Germany’s Eifel Mountains, held together using iron clamps, just like Trier’s amazing Roman city gate, the Porta Nigra. Today, Trier is a time capsule of ancient Roman times and is a UNESCO-recognised heritage site.
Arching over the Cendere Çayı creek in Turkey’s Mount Nemrut National Park, the Severan Bridge – or Cendere Köprüsü – is considered one of the best-preserved Roman stone bridges in the country. Built by a Roman legion under the order of Emperor Septimius Severus, the bridge was constructed as a single vaulted arch and was flanked by four columns. The inscriptions on the bridge suggest these were dedicated to the emperor, his wife and their sons (only three are there today). The bridge is a popular stopping point en route to the magnificent temple tombs of Mount Nemrut.
Originally built as a passageway to Bergama’s Red Basilica, the Pergamon Bridge is one of a few fascinating monuments found in this well-preserved ancient city. Located around 16 miles (26km) off Turkey’s Aegean coast in West Anatolia, Pergamon itself dates back millennia and was once one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire. The bridge, which reaches 643 feet (196m) across the Selinus river (now known as Bergama Çayı) was constructed between 117 and 138 AD and is one of the most important relics of this UNESCO-listed city.
Named after the Arabic word for arch (al-Qantarah), this stone bridge built over the Tagus River dates back to between AD 104 and 106. Located in the western Spanish region of Extremadura, it was designed by Caius Julius Lacer under the order of Roman Emperor Trajan – and while it's had to undergo several repairs over time, it's still considered one of the world’s oldest bridges. Comprising five pillars and six arches and a length of 636 feet (194m), the Puente Trajan, as it’s also known, has been listed as a cultural heritage site since the 1920s.
This limestone masterpiece is one of the most breathtaking ancient monuments in France. At 155-feet (47m) tall and 902 feet (275m) at its longest point, this neck-achingly high aqueduct, which spans the Gardon River, is a huge architectural achievement, especially considering it was constructed around AD 50. Once water stopped flowing to the city of Nîmes (formerly known as Nemausus), this awe-inspiring bridge became a crossing for vehicles and, later, pedestrians. Today, it’s a popular attraction for visitors who come to photograph its impressive, layered arches.
Named after its creator, Lucius Fabricius, this 200-foot (61m) long bridge connects the city of Rome's mainland to Tiber Island. Dating back to 62 BC, it’s the oldest bridge that’s still in use in the city. Although the four-headed monument was added during a 16th-century restoration, this pedestrian walkway has (amazingly) remained largely unchanged since it was built. The island itself is seen as an important place of healing, and there's still a hospital there today.
A simple yet sturdy bridge in one of Turkey’s most populous cities, the Caravan Bridge in Izmir (known in ancient times as Smyrna) dates back some 3,000 years. Originally built in 850 BC for camel trains entering the town, this tough stone slab arch still carries vehicles and pedestrians daily, making it one of the oldest bridges still in use. Many claim it is the oldest bridge in the world (the Guinness World Records included).
Also known as the Kazarma Bridge, this simple structure, which crosses a small gully in Greece’s southerly peninsula, may go unnoticed to some visitors. But incredibly, this stone crossing could be as old as 3,300 years, since the Ancient Greeks supposedly constructed it sometime between 1300 and 1190 BC. Made up of limestone boulders, stones and tiles, the bridge is thought to have been built to carry chariots. It's used by vehicles today, making it the oldest still-in-use bridge in the world.
Read on for the most impressive bridge in every US state and DC