A bridge made of 26 million bricks: how the most grandiose viaducts in the world were built (11 photos)

Before steel and concrete, architects and engineers had only one choice: brick and stone. These materials could not compete with metal in flexibility, but they served for centuries.





Stone bridges are practically eternal: in Europe and Asia, viaducts built hundreds or even thousands of years ago still stand. And they will outlive many modern steel structures.

Ouse Valley Viaduct: A Victorian Masterpiece



Ouse Valley Viaduct - Arch Bridge in England

By the mid-19th century, steel and cast iron began to displace brick, but arch bridges retained a key advantage - the more weight they bear, the stronger they become. After a series of disasters with cast iron bridges that claimed dozens of lives, railway engineers again turned to brick and built from it until the 20th century.





Ouse Valley Viaduct

One of the most beautiful examples is the Ouse Valley Viaduct, completed in 1842. This 500-metre giant of red brick and pale limestone still serves as part of the London to Brighton railway.



Its graceful arches, Italian pavilions and parapets create the impression that you are looking at a palace façade rather than an engineering structure.



But the main highlight is the inverted arches at the base of the supports: if you stand directly under the bridge, a hypnotic view opens up through the entire viaduct.



It took 11 million bricks to build it, some of which were brought all the way from the Netherlands! And the decorative stone for the finishing was mined in Normandy.

Göltzschtalbrücke: the king of brick bridges



Göltzschtalbrücke — the world's largest brick viaduct

However, the viaduct over the Ouse is not the record holder. The title of the largest brick bridge in the world belongs to the German Göltzsch Viaduct.



Built in 1851, it rises 78 meters and consists of 26 million bricks!



Engineer Johann Andreas Schubert chose brick instead of granite: there was a lot of clay in the area, which made production cheaper. Along the railway, 20 brick factories operated, supplying material for this giant.



Elstertalbrücke

Next to it stands its younger brother, the Elstertalbrücke (12 million bricks), the second largest brick viaduct in the world. Both are still in operation, carrying trains from Leipzig to Hof.



These bridges have survived wars, revolutions, and the onslaught of progress — all thanks to ordinary brick. Maybe our skyscrapers will one day be called ancient?