Poniatowski Bridge

The Poniatowski Bridge, also known as Prince Józef Poniatowski Bridge, was constructed between 1904 and 1914 as an extension of Jerusalem Avenue in Warsaw. Its architectural design was created by Mieczysław Marszewski, Bronisław Plebiński, and Wacław Paszkowski, while the architectural finishing was designed by Stefan Szyller. The bridge is 506 meters long and consists of eight steel spans supported by stone pillars. Interestingly, the construction of the bridge was one of the largest investments in Warsaw after the sewer system was built. The bridge witnessed many significant historical events, including the meeting between President Stanisław Wojciechowski and Marshal Józef Piłsudski in 1926, as well as the destruction during World War II when it was blown up by the Germans in 1944. Reconstruction lasted until 1946, and after the war, the bridge lost some of its original character, such as the removal of its decorative balustrades. The Poniatowski Bridge also holds cultural significance, having been featured in films like "Witkacy z Niną w Warszawie." In 2008, it was depicted on a postage stamp, and in 2017, a beach volleyball court complex was built beneath the bridge. Today, the bridge connects Praga with the left-bank part of Warsaw and remains a vital element of the city's transportation infrastructure.