Pont de Zaehringen, Suspension bridge in Fribourg, Switzerland.
The Pont de Zaehringen is a 273-meter suspension bridge spanning the Sarine River and joining the Schoenberg and Bourg districts. Its structure features distinctive cables and towers that support the footway above the water.
Engineer Joseph Chaley completed this bridge in 1834, creating a structure that held the world record as the longest suspension bridge for 15 years. It marked a turning point in 19th-century bridge engineering.
The bridge carries the name of the Zähringen family, who founded Fribourg in 1157 and shaped this Swiss region's early development. Today this name connects visitors to the medieval rulers whose influence remains visible throughout the city.
Since October 2014, only pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles use this bridge, while through traffic has been redirected elsewhere. The crossing remains accessible and straightforward for those who need it.
A narrow road runs beneath the main deck through the bridge piers, creating an unusual two-level crossing system. This double structure was an inventive solution to the local terrain when it was built.
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