Covered bridges

The covered bridges over the Ile River in Strasbourg are a complex of medieval defensive structures located on the border of the urban area of Little France.

Bridges were built in the XIII century in connection with the expansion of the city.

At that time, the bridges served as fortifications and controlled access to the city along the Il River. To this end, three massive stone towers were built on the bridges, and a fourth was built a little later. In addition, the bridges were covered with a wooden and later tiled roof, which gave them their name.

After the construction of the famous Vauban Dam in the XVIII century, the bridges finally lost their protective function. In this regard, in 1784 they were significantly reconstructed, becoming stone and without roofing. Nevertheless, their historical name “Covered Bridges” has survived to this day. Today, the bridges are a wonderful place for hiking, and the view of this attraction has become one of the hallmarks of Strasbourg.