Do you know how many bridges are in Kiev? If not, don’t worry, because very few even from Kiev can answer this question, even approximately. It turns out that they are not less than 70. Another interesting fact is that the bridges across the Dnieper River in Kiev appeared only recently. This is because the Dnieper river was once much wider, which gave rise to the famous expression by the Ukrainian author Gogol that "not every bird will fly to the middle of the Dnieper River".
The first major bridge appears only in 1853 (it was destroyed in 1920). In was a chain bridge and one of the longest bridges in Europe - 777 meters. The central part of the bride was raised at night to allow ships to pass.
The bridges across the Dnieper River today reflect both historical Soviet and modern architecture. The Paton Bridge opened in 1953 and is the only bridge in the world made of welded steel.It is over 1 km in length, six lanes wide and affords spectacular views of the river and city.
The Metro Bridge (1965) moves cars, pedestrians and the metro simultaneously! In warm weather you will often see people fishing off the bridge in the slow moving waters of the Dneiper.In the evening, the bridge is transformed by lights and the shine of headlights.It has remarkable Soviet statuary and metalwork designs along its entire length.
Perhaps Kiev’s most beloved bridge is the Park Bridge or Truhanov, which was opened in 1957. This delicate and airy bridge is designed for pedestrians and connects the river quay with Trukhaniv Island. We will walk across this bridge for the unforgettable sights of the city.
Southbridge is one of the youngest and was opened a year after Ukrainian independence in 1992. It carries cars and the metro. It is Kiev’s largest and most important bridge built in an impressive cable harp design.
On our bridges tour you will visit up close and view from a distance all the major bridges of Kiev and learn about the history of bridge building in Kiev and the difference in architecture, design and technology.
And of course, we will marvel at the beautiful views of the Dnieper River and the city of Kiev, particularly the stunning views of the Pechersk Lavra, the Motherland titanium Statue, the People's Friendship Arch and many other sights, monuments, parks and hills of Kiev.
