Built with ancestral or modern techniques, bridges always attract the attention of both the inhabitants of a town or a city and its visitors.
But when these structures were built with materials such as wood, they are even more surprising for
having resisted the passing of decades and even centuries.
For this reason, given the deterioration and/or the fires suffered -the most frequent accident in the most historic ones-, many bridges had to be partially or totally renovated.
Ranging from North America to European and Asian countries, here we have chosen five iconic wooden bridges for their sheer beauty and historical value.
In some cases, they have even gained fame thanks to the cinema.
1. Roseman Bridge, United States
In
Madison
County and the state of
Iowa
, the Roseman Covered Bridge was built in 1883 by Harvey P. Jones and George K. Foster.
With more than 32 meters long, although the structure was renovated around 1992, it is in its original location, in the United States.
The Roseman Covered Bridge in Iowa, made famous by the movie "The Bridges of Madison."
Photo Shutterstock
Its fame is due to Robert James Waller's novel "The Bridges of Madison County" (The Bridges of Madison) and, especially, to the charming film of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.
Precisely, Roseman is the bridge that photographer Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) is looking for when he stops at the house of Francesca (Meryl Streep) to ask for directions.
And he also appears in the remembered scene in which she leaves him a note inviting him to dinner.
There is no tourist who does not want to be photographed in this place, and there are even people who follow the same route that the film suggests.
2. Chapel Bridge, Switzerland
Of
medieval origin
, the wooden Chapel Bridge (
Kapellbrücke
), crosses the Reuss River in
Lucerne
,
Switzerland
, and is one of the most visited places due to its tourist attraction and centuries of history.
The famous Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Photo Shutterstock
Built in 1365, the bridge connects the old and new town of Lucerne, and is considered the
oldest wooden bridge in Europe
.
It was also the longest, but after the fire in 1835, the bridge lost much of its length.
In addition, in 1993 it had to be rebuilt as a result of a fire in the engine of a boat located on a pier.
Today, the bridge is an artistic walk as
the ceilings display paintings
that tell part of the history of Lucerne.
3. Kintai Bridge, Japan
It is
one of the most iconic bridges in Japan
.
The structure consists of
five wooden arches
on the banks of the Nishiki River, and represents a work of architecture dating from 1673 as the entrance to Iwakuni Castle.
The Kintai Bridge in Japan.
Photo Shutterstock
Given the deterioration caused by wars and typhoons, the Kintai bridge had to be completely rebuilt and what can be visited today is a perfect replica with the parameters of the construction several centuries ago.
4. Capilano Bridge, Canada
In
Vancouver
, Canada, the Capilano
Suspension Bridge
spans the Capilano River in the British Columbia area.
The Capilano Bridge in Vancouver, Canada.
Photo Shutterstock
Today it is 140 meters long and suspended 70 meters above the river, but it was built in 1889 and originally used hemp ropes and cedar boards.
In 1903 the hemp was changed to wire ropes and around 1956 it underwent a comprehensive reconstruction.
After passing through different hands, today it is in a park where there are humid temperate forests, nature trails and a large private collection of totem poles of native peoples of Canada.
Being a tourist spot in Vancouver, it manages to attract about 800,000 visitors per year.
The Capilano Bridge is 140 meters long.
Photo Shutterstock.
5. Wind and Rain Bridge, China
Iconic and majestic, this wooden structure was built in the territory of Sanjiang, Guangxi province, in
China
.
Although it was inaugurated in 1924, but its construction took 12 years.
Finally, this work managed to become the most important of the tradition of wooden bridges of the Dong ethnic group, crossing the Linxi River and with a length of about 64 meters.
Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, China.
Photo Shutterstock
Built with inlaid stones and wood, the bridge boasts five towers and eaves, becoming the center of attention in the middle of a bucolic landscape.
The arms of the river and the tea trees on the hills, while the peasants work in their fields.
But what is most surprising is the technique used to raise the bridge so long ago, since it has stood for centuries and no nails or rivets were used.
look too
Fascinating landscapes, stories and good memories: a tour of the world's bridges
This is the second longest tourist suspension bridge in the world
