Attraction
Anghel Saligny Bridge — Cernavodă
The Anghel Saligny Bridge, initially known as the King Carol I Bridge, was designed and built by engineer Anghel Saligny between 1890 and 1895, and inaugurated on 14 September 1895. With a total length of 4,087.95 m, it was at the time of its inauguration the longest bridge complex in continental Europe and the third longest in the world. Its central span of 190 m was the largest in continental Europe, and the bridge was raised 30 m above high-water level on the Danube to allow the passage of tall-masted vessels.
The Anghel Saligny Bridge, initially named the King Carol I Bridge, is the most important industrial heritage landmark in Romania, built across the Danube between Fetești and Cernavodă to connect Dobrogea — reunited with the motherland in 1878 — to the rest of the Kingdom. It was designed in 1888 and built between 1890 and 1895 by engineer Anghel Saligny, who oversaw the works at the age of 34–35. Including its approach ramps, the bridge complex had a total length of 4,087.95 m, making it at the time of inauguration the longest bridge complex in continental Europe and the third longest in the world. The central span of 190 m was the largest in continental Europe. The continuous cantilever girder superstructure allowed the central span to be covered by resting on two 50 m cantilevers. The maximum height of the cantilever girders is 32 m, and the bridge was raised 30 m above high-water level. Saligny was the first to use a cantilever girder system for the structure and mild steel for the deck — an innovative technique that gave the bridge exceptional durability. The total cost was 35 million gold lei. At the inauguration on 14 September 1895, Carol I drove the last rivet — made of silver — and sealed the inauguration document within the structure. The load test was carried out with a convoy of 15 locomotives crossing the bridge at 60 km/h, followed by a second convoy at 80 km/h. Throughout this time, Anghel Saligny stood beneath the bridge on a launch, alongside the workers, staking his own life on the structure's integrity. At the Cernavodă end of the bridge, a bronze monument depicting two dorobanți soldiers was erected in memory of the heroes who fell in the War of Independence, sculpted by French artist Léon Pilet. The bridge is listed in the List of Historical Monuments under code LMI CT-II-m-A-02872, and celebrated its 130th anniversary in September 2025, remaining fully operational for rail traffic. It is well worth visiting for its pioneering significance in European engineering and for the imposing architectural ensemble visible from several vantage points around the town.
Cernavoda judetul Constanta