Stádlec Chain Bridge

From an architectural point of view, the bridge is a pure example of late classicism and empire. Its dominant feature is two massive stone pylons in the shape of victory gates, which are 13 meters high. They have a rectangular plan measuring 4 × 9 meters and are built of precisely machined granite blocks.

The foundation of the bridge is formed by four main supporting chains, arranged symmetrically in two pairs. These chains are composed of forged iron flat links. The chains pass freely through the upper part of the stone pylons through special sliding bearings that allow the structure to respond to temperature changes and movements. At both ends of the bridge, these chains are driven deep into the ground and anchored in massive brick anchor blocks. Vertical hangers hang from the chains on pins, which support the wooden bridge deck itself.

The total length of the bridge is 157 m, the width is 6 meters and the height of the gates is 13 meters.

The bridge originally spanned the wild bed of the Vltava River near Podolsk. It was built in 1847–1848 by the famous South Bohemian industrialist Vojtěch Lanna the Elder. The project was developed by engineers Josef Gassner and Bedřich Schnirch – the latter was the European pioneer of chain-stayed structures.
The bridge near Podolsk faithfully served its purpose for more than a hundred years. However, in the 1930s and 1940s, its capacity was no longer sufficient for the growing modern traffic, and therefore the monumental reinforced concrete Podolsk Bridge was erected high above it. Both bridges ran above each other for a full eighteen years, until 1960, when the filling of the Orlická Dam began. Since the old chain bridge would have ended at the bottom of the dam, it was dismantled in the 1970s and moved to the Lužnice Valley.

A big problem for the bridge arose in the 1950s, when the decision was made to build the Orlická Dam. It was clear that the rising level of the Vltava River would irretrievably swallow the original Empire bridge. But in the end, the desire to save it won out. The bridge was completely dismantled. Each of the 2,000 granite blocks was carefully numbered and documented, and the metal parts, weighing a total of 102 tons, were stored in a covered warehouse.
Several locations were interested in the unique bridge. In the end, the picturesque Lužnice Valley below the town of Stádlec was chosen, where the width of the valley and the configuration of the terrain exactly corresponded to the original Vltava riverbed.
After years of painstaking work, the bridge was reassembled like a giant historical puzzle. The ceremonial opening of the relocated Stádlecký Bridge took place on May 25, 1975.

The bridge looks like new today because it underwent a major renovation in 2020–2021. The original wooden elements, which were attacked by wood rot, were completely replaced with highly durable oak wood.

The Stádlecký Bridge was declared a national cultural monument in 1989 and a popular destination for hikers, cyclists and boaters who sail under it on the Lužnica River.
But the bridge did not remain just a static museum – it still serves normal traffic. However, to prevent damage to this fragile structure, strict rules apply. Entry is only allowed to passenger cars up to a maximum width of 2 meters, weighing 1.5 tons, and the speed is limited to just 10 km/h. It is therefore not suitable for normal transit traffic. When a car passes over, the entire bridge sways slightly and the wood creaks loudly.