This morning, I’m up early, strolling around town before breakfast. Vaduz is tiny, so that’s not a particularly strenuous endeavour. Down by the Rhine, I spot an old covered bridge in the distance.
How exciting! A covered bridge! I approach with glee, taking heaps of photos as I go.
The wooden floorboards squeak slightly as I make my way through. A faint aroma of horse tickles my nostrils. At intervals, shutters afford glimpses of the Rhine floating by. It’s a wonderfully romantic bridge.
About halfway through is a double sign: Liechtenstein to the left and Switzerland to the right. This is a border bridge! On the other side, I ramble about in the Swiss village of Sevelen for a bit.
An international border
Returning across the bridge, I jump back and forth across this major international border a couple of times: Now I’m in Liechtenstein, now in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland…
Update: See more on Liechtenstein on EuropeUpClose, including practical info. Want even more? Have a look at this article on Boots’n’All.
Update 30 July 2011: According to Wiki, covered bridges originated in Europe. The ornate, covered bridges in Italy are perhaps the most famous: Ponte Vecchio in Florence, the Rialto in Venice. But there are many more, mostly in Switzerland, it appears, but also in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Turkey, the UK. We’re off to the Cotswolds in a week, will have a look at the two covered bridges in Oxford then.
The Rheinbrücke Vaduz – Sevelen is a so-called truss bridge, built in 1901. 135 metres long, a little over 4 metres wide and was closed for motor traffic in 1975 (can’t imagine a car passing through – but then mid-20th century European cars were much smaller and lighter, of course). For more technical info on this (and other covered bridges), have a look at Waymarking.com.
Great photos 🙂
It is romantic!
It is very romantic, Robin! Love the under the bridge shot- great one sophie!
I do not think I have ever been on a covered bridge. Very cool photo from inside.
How quaint! I think I would have done the same border jumping dance as you did!
I would probably run back and forth between borders too. Fun!
What a great border! Recently I learned a lot about Liechtenstein and want to visit! However, this would be a fantastic way to cross into the country!
How cool! I’d love to see Liechtenstein someday, and to cross over an old wooden bridge like that would be awesome. (I posted a bridge shot too!)
I just love covered bridges — how great to be on one that is actually on the border of Liechtenstein and Switzerland! Very nice pics, Sophie.
Lovely photos.
Sigh, I love Europe! So picturesque. I too would have ran from one side to other. 🙂
What a romantic bridge! I was in Liechtenstein only a few hours, but I should have had a better look.
What a gorgeous bridge. There mustn’t be too many old covered bridges like that left in the world. I don’t think I would have been able to resist walking across it … or jumping back and forth across the border a few times.
So romantic, I just adore these photos. Also, isn’t it funny how tiny the Rhine looks in the mountains?
Ha,ha, Sophie, I would have done tha same. Hop from country to country. In Istanbul you can do even better, hop from continent to continent, it does take a tiny bit longer though as you have to go on a ferry or cross over a somewhat bigger and busier bridge.
Thanks for your comments, everyone!
@Louise: Yes, I agree. The Alpine section of the Rhine is beautiful, but it doesn’t exactly look a part of one of Europe’s most important waterways, does it… Just downstream here, it widens considerably, though. I think it’s as wide as 10 kilometres before it hits Bodensee (Lake Constance).
Ah, Liechtenswitz – never been there – hope to go one day.
what a hoot! i’d have jumped back and forth, too. 🙂 such a pretty (and inspiring) walk!
Why is that bridge covered? You don’t see that often in Europe… Actually I’ve never seen one. Do you think it has something to do that it is a border cross?
@Melvin – Interesting question. I googled about a bit, but the whys are elusive, at best. I’ll update the post with a few facts.
Great photos! Very cool that the border is in the middle of the bridge – can’t help but think that my kids would love being able to jump back and forth between countries too.
Bridges like these are so interesting. I’m glad they have a unique way of marking the border. Lines are so dull but this bridge is anything but!
What a cool place – and such a fun narrative too – thanks for sharing it with us!
~Becca
This does look like a cool bridge. I love covered bridges and even better if it is an international border. 🙂
How cool! I love bridges and have written about a lot of them, but never a wooden bridge spanning an international border!
This reminds me of the covered bridge I crossed in New Brunswick as a child. Although rare- these bridges are quite a marvel.
Covered bridges are so beautiful – I haven’t seen any in Europe before!
SUCH a cute post. Love it. Switzerland has so many gorgeous covered bridges.
Beautiful bridge. Made me think of that Eastwood/Streep film, Bridges of Madison County! This has to be the best covered bridge that is also an international border.
What a great little adventure! Lovely shots. There a couple of well known covered bridges in New Brunswick, the province next to Nova Scotia (my home province), and they really are lovely.
Thanks again, everyone. I adore border bridges as well. I think this one is especially cool; it’s a pedestrian bridge and old and wooden. But there are also very cool bridges serving as borders along the Danube, e.g. between Hungary and Slovakia.
Great photos also find these types of bridges curious but for another reason, love carpentry and joinery. The main interest being the design and structure which is often complex and heavy work but skillfully done.
What a spot! This international border gives an opportunity to click pictures while stepping one foot in Switzerland and another in Liechtenstein. One can boast of visiting two different European countries at the same time. The wooden bridge really looks vintage, and is used to cross from Lichtenstein to Switzerland by pedestrians and cyclists.
it is one of the amazing places. Seems like a century bridge with too much history behind whereas showing how great is the man who created and designed this wonderful bridge.
In add to this, it can be a good spot also for couples making their vows and promises on this bridge. So romantic…. Thanks for sharing
GREAT I adore border bridges as well, Switzerland has so many stunning covered bridges.
The one in Lucerne is spectacular!