The Toruń Bridge Over the Vistula in the Modern Era as a Research Problem

Abstract

The permanent wooden bridge over the Vistula in Toruń was built in the years 1497-1500 and existed until 1877. The bridge consisted of two parts, the so-called the "German" bridge and the "Polish" bridge, separated by an island located in the river's current called Kępa Bazarowa (Market Island). Almost four centuries of the bridge's existence does not mean that the original structure from the 15th century has survived so many years. The width of the river near Toruń and the geographic characteristics of the bottom, which made it impossible to build a bridge on brick pillars at that time, meant that the wooden structure of the bridge was almost annually (especially in spring) exposed to damage or destruction by high water levels and flowing ice. This resulted in the search for technical solutions that would increase the resistance of the structure to these threats. So, at different times, the bridge took different shapes and could be in different locations. There were also periods, often over several years, when the bridge did not exist. The history of the bridge, which has become the subject of quite intense interest in recent years, is illustrated by various sources, including: written (e.g. bridge toll bills and repair costs, bridge improvement concepts), iconographic and cartographic sources, as well as technical documentation. As the bridge was an important element of the city's panorama from the Vistula River, it was also presented on numismatic monuments showing the view of the city, showing the technical details. The source material for the last period of the bridge's existence in the 19th century is relatively well preserved, unfortunately it is only fragmentary for the earlier centuries. However, it allows for an interesting research into the history of this fascinating construction.