Žampach viaduct, Railway bridge in Luka pod Medníkem, Czech Republic
The Žampach viaduct is a stone railway bridge on the Vrané nad Vltavou–Čerčany line between Luka pod Medníkem and Jílové u Prahy. It has seven arches of 12 m span, rises 41.73 m above the Kocour gorge and the Studený stream, and is 109.33 m long. Its granite structure curves with a 180 m radius.
Construction of the viaduct started in 1898 and was finished in 1900, with Italian workers brought in to build the railway infrastructure. Its completion opened up a continuous rail connection through this remote corner of Bohemia.
The viaduct is part of the Posázavský pacifik railway line, a name coined by local hikers in the 1920s. The line runs through narrow valleys and draws both railway enthusiasts and walkers who follow the trails along the tracks.
The best views of the viaduct are from the trails that run along the gorge or from nearby viewpoints above the valley. The terrain is steep in places, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before setting out.
The viaduct was featured on a 5,000 CZK gold coin issued by the Czech National Bank in 2013, part of the ten-part Bridges of the Czech Republic cycle. The coin's design was created by medallist Zbyněk Fojtů.
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