Oławski Bridge ( pl, Most Oławski) is a
road
A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation.
There are many types of ...
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
over the
Oława River in
Wrocław
Wrocław (; german: Breslau, or . ; Silesian German: ''Brassel'') is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the River Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, rou ...
,
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
. It was also known as Mauritius Brücke or Margarethenbrücke (German), St. Mauritius Bridge (English), and (cattle drive bridge). It was constructed during 1882–1883 and was designed by
Alexander Kaumann, with assistance from Eger and Reichelt, Beer, Wackwitz and Hoffmann.
Before the construction of the Oławski Bridge, there was a footbridge that was used to drive cattle across the Oława, and for a time the bridge was called the Wygonowy Bridge (cattle drive bridge; Polish: Most Wygonowy).
The bridge is adorned with sculptural elements made by P. Heisler under the direction of Robert Toberentza and in collaboration with Heinrich Weltringa. The metal decorative elements were made by Gustav Trelenberg. In 1962 and 1990 the bridge was completely renovated.
The bridge is constructed using brick arches and supports, covered with stone blocks (blows) decorated with a hammered texture. The railings are ornate, with baluster elements modeled on the iconography of
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a highly decorative and theatrical style which appeared in Italy in the early 17th century and gradually spread across Europe. It was originally introduced by the Catholic Church, particularly by the Jesuits, as a means t ...
. The total length of the bridge is , and its total width is . The roadway surface on the bridge is made of granite blocks. Before World War II, a tram line ran across the bridge; it was removed during renovation of the track.
Bridges in Wrocław
Bridges completed in 1883
Road bridges in Poland
{{Poland-bridge-struct-stub