There are very few bridges with buildings in the world. This list attempts to identify all the existing ones and notable former ones featuring significant closed commercial, residential, governmental, or religious worship structures. There exist numerous proposals for inhabited bridges, including 73 designs submitted in the Royal Institute of British Architects' competition at the 800th anniversary of London Bridge,[1] but the table here presents only bridges actually built.

Various blog-like and magazine-type sources attempt to itemize them, but find only a few.[2] [3] [4]

Many bridges include pavilions or other shelters serving pedestrians crossing the bridge, without providing commercial, residential, governmental, or religious worship space; these are not included.

Some "covered bridges" such as Pont de Rohan, in Landerneau, and the Pont des Marchands, in Narbonne, both in France, had residential buildings; these two were among at least 45 inhabited bridges that once existed in Europe, and when the rest are known all should be added here. Other covered bridges in Germany,[5] the United States, and elsewhere might be seen as "buildings" in that their roof protects an enclosed area, but the purpose of the covering is to preserve the structure and the enclosed space is primarily for traffic to pass through. The term "covered bridges" is also used for structures in China such as Chengyang Bridge (1912) and Xijin Bridge (rebuilt 1718) which have large enclosed spaces, but for these it appears that space is not provided for commercial or residential use.

The term "covered bridge" is sometimes used broadly to describe any "bridge-like structure" that is covered by a roof. However, bridge-like structures such as Heilig-Geist-Spital, a hospital built out over two arched spans into the Pegnitz river in Nuremberg, but which did not ever provide a complete crossing to the other side, are not included. And certain other bridge-like structures did provide complete spans but were not open to the public for crossing, such as perhaps some château in France, perhaps a building in Amberg, Germany (File:Nuernberg-fronfeste-und-kettensteg-v-O.jpg, at 49°26′50″N 11°51′20″E / 49.44734494449012°N 11.855433°E / 49.44734494449012; 11.855433 (Fronfest Amberg?) over the Vils river), and numerous private buildings such as the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Fallingwater residence over Bear Run in Pennsylvania. These also are not intended to be included.

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Bridges having buildings (with significant commercial, residential, governmental, or religious worship space) include:

Australia

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Walter Taylor Bridge Brisbane, Queensland27°30′21″S 152°58′25″E / 27.505773°S 152.973606°E / -27.505773; 152.973606 (Walter Taylor Bridge) Suspension bridge across Brisbane River Opened 1936 Included residential space for "bridge-keeper" and family, no longer in use. Asserted to be the only habitable bridge in the southern hemisphere.[6]

Bulgaria

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Covered Bridge, Lovech Lovech

Canada

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Esplanade Riel Winnipeg, Manitoba
49°31′57″N 97°04′25″E / 49.5326°N 97.0737°E / 49.5326; 97.0737 (Esplanade Riel) 		Red River of the North 2004 Side-spar cable-stayed bridge with restaurant

China

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Anshun Bridge Chengdu, Sichuan
30°38′39″N 104°05′00″E / 30.6442°N 104.0834°E / 30.6442; 104.0834 (Anshun Bridge) 		Jin River 13th century; 1746; 2003 Arch bridge with restaurant
Five-Pavilion Bridge Yangzhou, Jiangsu
32°24′35.1″N 119°24′58.1″E / 32.409750°N 119.416139°E / 32.409750; 119.416139 (Five-Pavilion Bridge) 		Slender West Lake 1757 Arch bridge with pavilions

Czech Republic

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Stříbro bridge Stříbro, Tachov District
49°45′01″N 13°00′05″E / 49.750315°N 13.001316°E / 49.750315; 13.001316 (Stříbro Bridge) 		Crosses Mže River One of five towers survives.
Cloak Bridge of Český Krumlov Castle Český Krumlov

England

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Frome bridge River Frome 23 May 1983
High Bridge, Lincoln Lincoln, England
53°13′42.7″N 0°32′26.4″W / 53.228528°N 0.540667°W / 53.228528; -0.540667 (High Bridge, Lincoln) 		River Witham 1160 The current row of timber framed shops on the west side of the bridge dates from about 1550.
"Old" London Bridge 51°30′29″N 0°05′16″W / 51.50806°N 0.08778°W / 51.50806; -0.08778 (Old London Bridge) Thames river, London 1209–1831 The number of houses on the bridge reached a maximum of 140. Many of the houses were later merged, into 91. In the seventeenth century, almost all had four or five storeys. All the houses were shops, and the bridge was one of the City of London's four or five main shopping streets. The three major buildings on the bridge were the chapel, the drawbridge tower and the stone gate. The drawbridge tower was where the severed heads of traitors were exhibited.
“Old” Newcastle Bridge 54°58′03″N 1°36′27″W / 54.9674°N 1.6076°W / 54.9674; -1.6076 (Old Newcastle Bridge) Tyne river, Newcastle 1248-1771 On the site of the current Newcastle Swing Bridge, the medieval bridge was swept away in the Great Flood of Newcastle in 1771.
Pulteney Bridge
Old Exe Bridge Exeter, Devon
50°43′09″N 3°32′09″W / 50.719111°N 3.535800°W / 50.719111; -3.535800 (Old Exe Bridge) 		River Exe (originally) c.1200-1778 ruins are among England's oldest surviving bridge works
St Ives Bridge St Ives, Cambridgeshire
52°19′22″N 0°04′31″W / 52.322826°N 0.075338°W / 52.322826; -0.075338 (St Ives Bridge) 		Great Ouse in St Ives, Cambridgeshire 1400s One of four bridges in England having a chapel.[7][8] Chapel space was a bawdy house in 1700s.
Rotherham Bridge Rotherham
53°25′57″N 1°21′30″W / 53.43263°N 1.35829°W / 53.43263; -1.35829 (Bridge Street Bridge) 		One of four bridges in England having a chapel[7]
Chantry Bridge, or Wakefield Bridge Wakefield
53°40′34″N 1°29′20″W / 53.676°N 1.489°W / 53.676; -1.489 (Wakefield's Medieval Bridge and Chantry Chapel) 		14th-century, nine-arched, stone bridge One of four bridges in England having a chapel[7]
Town Bridge, Bradford-on-Avon Bradford-on-Avon
51°20′49″N 2°15′04″W / 51.347°N 2.251°W / 51.347; -2.251 (Town Bridge) 		One of four bridges in England having a chapel[7] Has a lock-up.

France

"Between 12th and 16th century many bridges were built with houses on them. They were solution for limited accommodation in walled cities and only France had as many as 35."[9]

Ponts Couverts, Strasbourg, a covered bridge in Strasbourg, has four massive towers that are buildings, but these are on islands not the bridge itself. (See File:Panorama de Strasbourg - 2014-02-02- P1760351 - P1760357.jpg)

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Pont d'Avignon, or Pont Saint-Bénézet Avignon
43°57′14″N 4°48′18″E / 43.95389°N 4.80500°E / 43.95389; 4.80500 (Pont d'Avignon / Pont Saint-Bénézet) 		Rhône Built 1177–1185 Has Chapel of Saint Nicholas
Pont Valentré Cahors
44°26′42″N 1°25′54″E / 44.44500°N 1.43167°E / 44.44500; 1.43167 (Pont Valentré) 		Arch bridge with six 16.5 metres (54 ft) spans, crosses Lot Built 1308-1378
Château de Chenonceau Loire Valley
47°19′29″N 1°04′13″E / 47.3247209°N 1.0704098°E / 47.3247209; 1.0704098 (Château de Chenonceau) 		Cher 1514-1559 It appears this was actually a public crossing: per its Wikipedia article "The widowed Louise Dupin saved the château from destruction during the French Revolution, preserving it from being destroyed by the Revolutionary Guard because 'it was essential to travel and commerce, being the only bridge across the river for many miles.'"
Pont des Marchands Narbonne, Aude
43°11′00″N 3°00′13″E / 43.183201°N 3.003693°E / 43.183201; 3.003693 (Pont des Marchands) 		Canal de la Robine Segmental arch bridge with one (once six) span
Pont de Rohan Landerneau, Brittany
48°27′01″N 4°14′57″W / 48.450260°N 4.249286°W / 48.450260; -4.249286 (Pont de Rohan) 		Crosses the Élorn until 1930 and the construction of the Pont Albert Louppe near Brest.
Barrage Vauban Strasbourg
48°34′46″N 7°44′17″E / 48.57944°N 7.73806°E / 48.57944; 7.73806 (Barrage Vauban) 		120 m (390 ft) bridge crosses Ill Opened in 1690
Pont Ambroix Ambrussum, Languedoc-Roussillon
43°43′02″N 4°09′07″E / 43.7172°N 4.1519°E / 43.7172; 4.1519 (Pont Ambroix) 		Stone arch bridge which carried the Roman road Via Domitia across the Vidourle; only one of its 11 arches survives; 1st century BC. During the High Middle Ages, a chapel devoted to St Mary was added.

Germany

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Krämerbrücke Erfurt
50°58′43″N 11°01′51″E / 50.97861°N 11.03083°E / 50.97861; 11.03083 (Krämerbrücke) 		segmental stone arch bridge crosses Gera

125 metres (410 ft) x 26 metres (85 ft)

1325 (stone bridge); 1486 (houses)
Alte Nahebrücke (Bad Kreuznach) Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate
49°50′41″N 07°51′28″E / 49.84472°N 7.85778°E / 49.84472; 7.85778 (Alte Nahebrücke) 		Nahe river c. 1300/1956 (bridge); 1612 (houses) Stone arch bridge, 135 metres (443 ft) x 10 metres (33 ft)
Stadtbrille [de] Amberg
49°26′34″N 11°51′27″E / 49.442822°N 11.857381°E / 49.442822; 11.857381 (Stadtbrille) 		Vils The "Stadtbrille" (literally: town spectacles) bridge was part of the town's fortifications, and its arches reflected on the river resemble a pair of spectacles.

Italy

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Ponte Vecchio, Florence Florence
43°46′05″N 11°15′11″E / 43.76799°N 11.25316°E / 43.76799; 11.25316 (Ponte Vecchio) 		Crosses Arno River Closed-spandrel segmental stone arch bridge with 30 metres (98 ft) main span
Rialto Bridge Venice Stone arch bridge with 31.80 metres (104.3 ft) span over Grand Canal 22.90 metres (75.1 ft) wide
Ponte Coperto Pavia
45°10′51″N 9°09′12″E / 45.180739°N 9.153258°E / 45.180739; 9.153258 (Ponte Coperto) 		Crosses Ticino River 216 metres (709 ft) long. Bridge of 1354 and 1949-51 replacement have a chapel.[10]
Ponte Vecchio, Bassano
Bassano del Grappa Crosses Brenta (river)

Spain

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Puente Nuevo Ronda
36°44′26.69″N 5°9′57.25″W / 36.7407472°N 5.1659028°W / 36.7407472; -5.1659028 (Puente Nuevo) 		Built 1759-1793 Crosses Guadalevín River in El Tajo gorge. Chamber above central arch has been used as a prison, including during Spanish Civil War

Switzerland

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Spreuerbrücke Lucerne
47°03′07.1″N 8°18′06.5″E / 47.051972°N 8.301806°E / 47.051972; 8.301806 (Spreuerbrücke) 		crosses Reuss

Turkey

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Irgandı Bridge Bursa
40°10′54″N 29°04′16″E / 40.1818°N 29.0710°E / 40.1818; 29.0710 (Irgandı Bridge) 		crosses Gökdere
Constantine's Bridge Mysia
40°12′15″N 28°26′29″E / 40.20417°N 28.44139°E / 40.20417; 28.44139 (Constantine's Bridge) 		completed after 258 AD Only ruins remain. Crossed Rhyndacus (Adırnas Çayı) In Byzantine times, had chapel created by Helena, mother of Constantine I

Vietnam

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Chùa Cầu, or Japanese Bridge Hội An, Quảng Nam
15°52′38″N 108°19′34″E / 15.877127°N 108.326017°E / 15.877127; 108.326017 (Japanese Bridge) 		Has a small temple, Bac De Tran Vu, which worships a Chinese general, also known as Huyen Thien Dai De.[11]

Wales

Bridge Image Location River Dates Note
Monnow Bridge Monmouth, Wales
51°48′32″N 2°43′12″W / 51.809°N 2.7199°W / 51.809; -2.7199 		River Monnow c.1272 A central tower, variously used as a gaol, garrison, toll-house and museum. The only surviving such bridge-tower in Britain.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bustler editors (August 17, 2009). "Winners of London Bridge 800: Design an Inhabited Bridge Competition". Retrieved November 30, 2020. ((cite web)): |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Bridges With Buildings". Madness Hub. November 11, 2019.
  3. ^ Delana (January 14, 2010). "Modern Trolls: 10 Bridges Turned to Homes & Mini-Cities". Web Urbanist.
  4. ^ Kaushik Patowary (May 17, 2016). "Bridges With Buildings".
  5. ^ Philip S. C. Caston (June 6, 2013). Germany's Historic Wooden Covered Bridges Still Standing (PDF) (Report).
  6. ^ Melanie Vujkovic (August 29, 2018). "Curious Brisbane: Indooroopilly bridge – the only habitable bridge in the Southern Hemisphere". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d Christopher Winn (2005). I Never Knew That About England. Ebury Press. ISBN 0-09-190207-X.
  8. ^ "Bridge Chapels". Edward Green.
  9. ^ "Historical Development of Bridges - Ancient and Greatest Bridges".
  10. ^ American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2007). Bridges 2008 (calendar). Reston, Virginia: ASCE. pp. May featured bridge. ISBN 978-0-7844-0945-9.
  11. ^ "Lịch sử chùa Cầu ở Hội an". July 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Cadw. "Monnow Bridge (Grade I) (2218)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
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