Passerelle de l'Homme de la Roche, Pedestrian bridge in La Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France
Passerelle de l'Homme de la Roche is a footbridge over the Saône connecting two riverside embankments with a wooden deck painted in soft pink and a modern metal frame. The structure offers a straightforward crossing without arches or ornamental design.
The original structure was built in 1895 as a crossing over the river. During World War II it narrowly escaped destruction when a French resistance fighter prevented German forces from detonating explosives placed on it.
The name refers to a wealthy merchant who arrived in the city during the 1500s and helped shape its growth. Visitors experience the direct connection between two distinct neighborhoods and feel the river's presence from both embankments.
The bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists around the clock every day. Access is straightforward from either riverbank and the crossing takes just a few minutes.
The current bridge was delivered in 1989 fully assembled on a barge, arriving as a complete unit rather than being built piece by piece on site. This unusual construction method made it a noteworthy engineering feat of that era.
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