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Kładka Ojca Bernatka, Kraków
The Father Bernatek Footbridge links the banks of the Vistula between Kazimierz and Podgórze, on the site of the former Podgórski Bridge. Opened in 2010, it is named after Laetus Bernatek, a Brother Hospitaller who played a key role in founding the order's hospital in Cracow. The crossing joins two districts of very different character and cuts the walk between them to a few minutes.
The crossing rests on a steel arch spanning roughly 145 metres, beneath which two separate decks are suspended: one for pedestrians, the other for cyclists. The whole structure weighs several hundred tonnes, yet still looks light. After dark the arch is lit from below and LED strips built into the railings come on, turning the bridge into one of the most striking points on the riverside skyline.
This is a step-free walking and cycling route, easy with a pushchair or a dog. It has earned the nickname lovers' bridge, with padlocks bearing names clipped to the railings. The deck offers a clear view of the Vistula boulevards and the buildings on both banks.
