Showing posts with label Египетский мост. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Египетский мост. Show all posts

9.30.2014

16. Egyptian Bridge across the Fontanka River 9.21.2014


Egyptian Bridge across the Fontanka River 9.21.2014

From Wikipedia:
The Egyptian Bridge (Египетский мост) carries Lermontov Avenue over the Fontanka River in St. Petersburg.

The one-span suspension bridge that it replaced was of historical interest as a monument to early 19th-century Egyptomania. It was constructed in 1825-1826 based on designs by two civil engineers, Von Traitteur and Christianowicz. Its granite abutments were topped with cast-iron sphinxes and hexagonal lanterns. An unusual feature was a pair of cast-iron gates featuring Egyptian-style columns, ornaments, and hieroglyphics, with many details of the ironwork elaborately gilded.

The original bridge, used by both pedestrians and horse-drawn transport, collapsed on January 20, 1905, when a cavalry squadron was marching across it. The present structure, incorporating sphinxes and several other details from the 19th-century bridge, was completed in 1955.