Addresses of the highest bridges in Europe

This bridge is recognizable due to its unusual shape and amazing beauty. And it is also a kind of record holder, because it is officially declared the highest bridge in Europe. It is included in the top 50 most popular attractions of the Russian capital, and since 2017 has received worldwide recognition. This is a picturesque bridge, whose bright red arch is installed over Marshal Zhukov Avenue and connects two districts-Serebryany Bor and Krylatskoye and is part of the Zvenigorod Highway. The bridge has been put into operation since 2007, and it got its name from a picturesque street located nearby.

Every Muscovite or guest of the capital has seen this bridge at least once. But not everyone knows that there are two such bridges in Moscow. The second one is located near the VDNKh metro station, on Konstantinov Street, house 11a. He perfectly accurately copies his "older brother", but... in the ratio of 1:87. The picturesque bridge at VDNKh is part of the exposition of the Tsar-Maket diorama Museum, a unique project that presents the most recognizable and famous objects, cities and corners of our vast country.

By the way, in addition to entertainment and leisure activities, the museum is designed as an informative and educational visual exhibit. It is interesting not only for children, but also for adults. And the main goal is to show the wealth and scale of the country in a playful and active form. The most famous architectural monuments of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and other cities from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, the most famous historical and natural objects are of cultural interest in the museum.

As for the original bridge, its length is one and a half kilometers, its width is 40 meters, and the height from the roadway to the water surface reaches 30 meters. The suspended arch, 182 meters wide and more than a hundred meters high, is attached to the base with 72 shrouds. And, like the cherry on the cake, the glass capsule under the arch looks like. Beautiful, powerful, unusual.

Its history dates back to the 2000s, when the Moscow authorities announced a competition for the development of a bridge project that was planned to be installed across the Moskva River between the Serebryany Bor ecological park and the Krylatsky Hills nature protection area. The presence of two important natural monuments near the construction site created some restrictions. Traditional bridge structures were no longer suitable, we had to look for a special solution in the development of the project. As a result, the bridge began to be built along the river, and not across, in order to leave the protected areas of parks untouched and not create obstacles for passing ships.

Nikolai Shumakov, known for creating the interiors of the Moscow metro, Vnukovo Airport, and the Moscow monorail, was appointed the architect of the Picturesque Bridge. For the project of the Picturesque Bridge, Shumakov was awarded the Auguste Perret Prize.

The construction of the bridge lasted from 2004 to 2007, and in 2009 it was planned to open a restaurant in a glass capsule located at the very top, under the arch. But the project had to be suspended due to flaws in the bridge design. To date, construction works are continuing inside the ellipsoid, so the capsule is closed to visitors. But someday it will open and, of course, improvements will follow in the "Tsar-Layout", because one of its principles is the perfect accuracy of layouts.

The picturesque bridge is a quantum-arched structure. The shrouds are fixed on the foundation of the bridge, which is supported by 20-40 meter piles. In turn, the piles are based on limestone filled with cement. To prevent the arch of the bridge from swaying in the wind, one of the supports is equipped with German-made oil shock absorbers.

The roadbed is divided into eight traffic lanes, sidewalks are laid on both sides of the carriageway, to which staircases lead. At the bend of the arch, at a height of more than 100 meters, a glass capsule made in the form of an ellipsoid is fixed. It is the central part of the observation deck of the Picturesque Bridge, and from a distance it resembles a flying saucer. On one side of the capsule there is a bridge-gallery, and on the other – an evacuation bridge to Serebryany Bor. You can climb to the observation deck on special lifts.

How to get to the Picturesque Bridge: from the Oktyabrskoye Pole metro station, go to Narodnaya Opolcheniya Street and walk 240 meters to the Oktyabrskoye Pole Metro stop. Buses No. 253 and 253k depart from here. Go to the bus stop "Marshal Zhukov Avenue". Then walk to the Picturesque bridge.

How to get to the model of the Picturesque bridge: from the VDNKh metro station, exit 4, on foot-to Konstantinov Street, 11a. The museum is open daily seven days a week from 10: 00 to 19: 00, the ticket office is open until 18: 15.