‘Like knocking down the Eiffel tower’: battle to save historic Prague bridge

The iconic Vyšehrad bridge in Prague, often likened in significance to Paris’s Eiffel Tower, is under threat of demolition. Czech Railways, citing the bridge’s inability to support increasing rail traffic, intends to replace the historic structure with a modern one. This decision has sparked widespread criticism from architects, preservationists, and the general public.

Constructed in 1901 and designed by Czech engineer František Prášil, the Vyšehrad bridge is renowned for its unique parabolic lattice steel design. It spans the Vltava river and serves as a primary rail link between Prague and major European cities like Munich. The bridge, which lies within a UNESCO world heritage site designated in 1992, also offers pedestrian pathways, making it a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

Despite its national monument status since 2004, the bridge has suffered from neglect. Czech Railways argues that the bridge’s current state of corrosion makes repairs complex and costly. They also have plans to expand the rail tracks and introduce a new local railway station in the vicinity. However, critics believe that the bridge’s deterioration is a result of the administration’s negligence over the years.

A recent architectural competition in the Czech Republic yielded a modern design inspired by the original bridge. Yet, studies commissioned by the Prague city council have found that preserving the bridge is technically feasible and that it can handle future train traffic demands.

Adam Scheinherr, Prague’s deputy mayor, emphasized the bridge’s significance to the city’s skyline, likening its presence in films set in Prague to iconic landmarks. Richard Biegel, from the Club for Old Prague preservation group, equated the bridge’s importance to Prague with that of the Eiffel Tower to Paris.

Ian Firth, a renowned structural engineer, suggested retaining the bridge for pedestrian use or limited rail traffic. He compared the potential demolition of the Vyšehrad bridge to the hypothetical destruction of London’s Tower Bridge, emphasizing the environmental implications of such decisions in the current climate crisis.

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