From the world-class landmarks to obscure travel gems, these bridges are travel destinations that deserve its rightful spot on your itinerary.
VIADUCT DE MILLAU
Holding the world record for the tallest bridge, Viaduct de Millau in France culminates at 343 meters, which is higher than Paris’ world renowned landmark, the Eiffel Tower. The magnificent motorway bridge, conceived by French engineer Michel Virlogeux and designed by English architect Lord Norman Foster, blends into the grandiose landscape and touches the bottom of the Tarn Valley in only 9 spots.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Located in San Francisco, USA, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. This Art Deco-designed building, completed in 1937, was honored as one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The name of the bridge originated from its location, the Golden Gate Strait, while its signature color came from the Golden Gate's consulting architect Irving Morrow, who noticed the burnt red and orange shade of primer on the steel, which he championed as the subsequent color of the bridge.
ERASMUS BRIDGE
A striking feat of engineering and a Rotterdam icon, the Erasmus Bridge is a remarkable sight in the second largest city in the Netherlands. Nicknamed The Swan (‘De Zwaan’) by locals due to the jutting 139-metre high steel pylon secured by a row of 40 steel cables, the bridge spans the Maas River and links the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam. The Erasmus Bridge is built from light-blue steel, designed by Ben van Berkel and opened in 1996 by Queen Beatrix.
BASTEI BRIDGE
Renowned rock formation Bastei and the Bastei bridge are the highlights of the Saxon Switzerland National Park in Germany, accessible in less than 1 hour from Dresden, the capital of Saxony. The area is favored by outdoor enthusiasts for its green, rolling hills and hiking trails, as well as the surrounding jagged groups of sandstone rocks. The Bastei Bridge offers a breathtaking panoramic view of river Elbe, the Lilienstein mountain and Koenigstein fortress, just to name a few.
BIXBY CREEK BRIDGE
The reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge in Big Sur, California, USA is often photographed for its location on the scenic Central Coast of California, the parabolic shape of the arch, the tall spandrel columns, and architectural piers, giving it an overall impressive aesthetic vibes. Also known as the Bixby Canyon Bridge, the bridge was completed in 1932, built over a steep canyon carved by Bixby Creek. The iconic and highly Instagramable cement arch has since been featured on postcards, music videos and an array of TV spots including car commercials and the hit HBO series “Big Little Lies”.
SHEIKH ZAYED BRIDGE
Dubbed as one of the most complex bridges in the world, the vehicular Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi, UAE was designed by renowned architect and Pritzker Prize winner Zaha Hadid. According to Zaha Hadid’s official website, the bridge features “cantilevered road decks suspended from symmetrical steel arches, which form a sinusoidal waveform—giving this huge structure its fluid silhouette.” The bridge serves as the fourth bridge to link Abu Dhabi to the mainland. Taking its climate and city population into consideration, the bridge is designed to withstand wind gusts of 160 kilometers per hour and to absorb double the average traffic load.
PHOTOS Unsplash, Pixabay
