Zwierzyniecki Bridge

Zwierzyniecki Bridge

It is 62 m long and 21.80 m wide which does not make it a major one. However, its beauty makes it stand out from the others.  It was built and designed by Karl Klimm between 1895 and 1897 in place of a wooden bridge from 1655. Until 1945 there even was a bronze plaque with a German inscription saying: "Wooden I reposed for centuries over indolent waters. Now I am made from steel and stone gracing the navigable track". Communist authorities removed the plaque, though. The construction of the bridge is one-span, steel and truss, with two parallel steel arches leaning on granite abutments. It is decorated by four magnificent Art Deco red sandstone obelisks and looks really splendid illuminated by lamp at dusk. The bridge survived World War II as the Nazis planned to blow it up expecting a strike from this side, but the Soviet Army attacked from another and they had either no time or purpose to destroy it. At present Zwierzyniecki Bridge is an important link in the eastern part of the city, connecting the city centre with the districts of Dąbie, Biskupin, Sępolno and Bartoszowice. It is close from there to the Zoo and Centennial Hall. There is also a passenger boat stop Zwierzynieca where you take a tourist boat to sail down Oder River.