This viaduct is one of the most interesting technical monuments in this part of Europe and is also one of the largest stone railway bridges in Europe. A similar one can be found on the River Nysa Luzycka in Zgorzelec. In 1846 after the building of a stone viaduct over the River Bobr, the railway arrived in the city – Boleslawiec became linked with Wroclaw and Dresden.

For completing one of the longest viaducts in Europe, its creator received an award and the grand opening was made by the Prussian King Fredrick Wilhelm IV, which is commemorated by a plaque mounted in one of the spans. The viaduct in Boleslawiec is 490m long, 8m wide and 26m high. The designer was Frederick Engelhardt Gansel, an architect from Boleslawiec, who was inspired by the Roman aqueducts. The building took 2 years and cost 400,000 thalers.

The viaduct is made up of 35 semicircular arches supported by massive pillars. The pillars are not equally spaced but are 15m, 11.5m or 5,65m apart. In 1945 the retreating Germans blew up the main western arch directly over the river. This section was very quickly rebuilt.

Boleslawiec City Council (woj. Dolnoslaskie)

www.um.boleslawiec.pl