Old Town Bridge in Děčín

The Old Town Bridge is a stone bridge made from sandstone blocks spanning the river Ploučnice in Děčín, connecting Děčín with the Old Town. It is also known as the “Big Bridge” and the “Long Bridge”. It measures 84 meters in length, 4.8 metres in width and its maximum height above the surface of the river is 7.7 metres.

An older bridge stood in its place as early as the first half of the 15^th century, but it was destroyed by a large flood in 1560. Shortly after that, a newer bridge was built – the current Old Town Bridge. In spite of the fact that Renaissance was the dominant style at the time, the Old Town Bridge has a distinctly Late Gothic appearance, featuring four arches (of different span and camber) enforced on both sides by ice breakers. The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk by the sculptor Michael Jan Josef Brokoff, dating from 1714, is located on the bridge, accompanied by sculptures of the patron saints of the land, Saints Wenceslaus and Vitus.

The Old Town Bridge is now an industrial and cultural monument, now open only to pedestrians and cyclists.