The Potseluev Bridge (, literally ''Bridge of Kisses'') is a bridge across the Moyka River in

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. The name of the bridge spurred numerous

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s. The

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view of

Saint Isaac's Cathedral Saint Isaac's Cathedral () is a large architectural landmark cathedral that currently functions as a museum with occasional church services in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Gre ...

that opens from the bridge makes it a popular subject of artists paintings.

Name and history

During the first half of the 18th century, townspeople had set up a crossing across the Moyka river from improvised materials at the location of the modern bridge. In 1738 while the

granite Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phanerite, phaneritic) intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly coo ...

embankment of Moyka was being established, the wooden pedestrian bridge was built. It had a raising part to allow passage of mast ships. The wooden bridge was painted in different colours, and therefore was named ''Coloured Bridge''. In 1768 the bridge was reconstructed to accommodate horse traffic. At this time the structure was changed to three-span bridge standing on stone supports. The bridge was named after merchant Potseluev who kept a tavern near the bridge. Local urban folklore links the bridge (whose name literally means Bridge of kisses) with good luck omens (lovers are advised to kiss on the bridge to have a long and happy relationship, often the bridge is visited by newlyweds, and so on). At the beginning of the 19th century a bridge no longer met the increased traffic loads, and therefore in 1816 it was rebuilt.Potseluev bridge
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Encyclopedia of St. Petersburg
/ref> The new bridge was built to the design of architect William Heste as a single span arched bridge. Like other Heste's bridges, it was made from iron cast with granite facing.Статья Анжелики Лихачевой на сайте «Всё, что нужно знать о Санкт-Петербурге»
Entrance to the bridge features four granite obelisk with lanterns. Fence pattern repeats the one from the Moyka River embankments. It was made at the Petersburg iron factory.9ac1c6af29c8bef74a345e933b590a51 Article "Potseluev river bridge. Washing"
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/ref> The first major renovation was made after heavy floods in 1824 and which nearly destroyed the bridge completely.Поцелуев мост
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«Информационный портал Санкт-Петербурга»
/ref> In 2024, a bus fell into the Moyka river from the bridge, killing 7 people.

Gallery

Image:Potseluev Bridge postcard.jpg, 19th-century postcard File:PotseluevBridgePostcard1914.jpg, 1914 postcard Image:Поцелуев_мост_2006.jpg, Bridge

handrail A handrail is a rail that is designed to be grasped by the hand so as to provide safety or support. In Great Britain, Britain, handrails are referred to as banisters. Handrails are commonly used while ascending or descending stairways and escala ...

References

{{reflist Bridges in Saint Petersburg Bridges completed in 1738 Bridges completed in 1768 Bridges completed in 1808 1768 establishments in the Russian Empire Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Saint Petersburg