Northeast of the French village of Lunel, where the Via Domitia crossed the Vidourle River, lies the ruins of Roman Ambrussum.
This interesting archaeological sites holds three main attractions, the Iron Age defended settlement known as the Oppidum, a Roman era staging post complex and the remains of the nearby Roman bridge. The river was once spanned by this magnificent 11-arch stone bridge, the first century BC Pont Ambroix, of which only one arch now remains.
The hilltop site Colline de Devès had human settlements as far back as 2300 BC. A bit more recently, the Gauls built a walled settlement here around 300 BC. From this hilltop vantage point, you can see the Nages Oppidum on its hilltop to the northeast, towards Nîmes.
The Romans conquered the area around 120 BC, and fortified the oppidum with an improved surrounding wall including 21 towers. The 12 acre enclosed space included an active town, especially from the time of the Ambroix bridge and staging area, 30 BC, until about 100 AD when it was abandonded.
The lower part of the site, beside the river, was a large staging area, which the Romans installed every 10-15 km along their main routes. The remains here are only the foundations, visible in the fields on the other side of the fence beside the current dirt track. Information panels have facsimile drawings and information in French and English.
The staging area was a Roman mansio, an official stopping place for Roman officials and travelers on official business. The Ambrussum site included hotels, baths and industrial buildings, beside the Pont Ambroix across the river.
A new visitor’s centre (established in 2011) and museum exists for history buffs and one can walk the rutted old cobblestone roads to the Oppidum and see the reconstructed ramparts dating to before the Roman period.
To tour the Oppidum site, you can walk down the main path to the Pont Ambroix, then branch right, up the hillside and loop through the main oppidum archeological sites.
Guided visits are available of the oppidum site on Saturdays and Sundays, October to May, according to the information panel.
You can find Roman archaeological site of Ambrussum around 7 km from Lunel, 35 km from Nimes and 30 km from Montpellier via the RN113. In Lunel, head towards Sommières, then Villetelle, and then follow the signs to the “Oppidum d’Ambrussum”.
If travelling via the A9, take the exit to Lunel, drive towards Lunel, then Villetelle, and then follow the signs to “Oppidum d’Ambrussum”.
]]>By September 1944, the Allies had broken Hitler’s Atlantic Wall with the invasion of Normandy, and after bitter fighting the Germans had been forced back through France, with Paris liberated.
Wanting to capitalise on their momentum and determined to defeat Germany as swiftly as possible, Allied forces planned to invade northern Germany. In doing so, they planned an ambitious airborne assault to capture a number of key river crossings and open a gateway into the country.
The plan, known as Operation Market Garden, involved dropping thousands of Allied troops behind enemy lines. These troops would then secure the crossings of the Rhine, including Arnhem Bridge, paving the way for a ground assault. It would be the biggest airborne assault in history.
The divisions included the American 82nd Airborne Division under General James Gavin, the 101st American Airborne Division led by General Maxwell Taylor and the First British Airborne Division commanded by Major General Robert Urquhart. This ambitious plan would also require the British XXX Corps to relieve the airborne troops.
Operation Market Garden, which took place from 17-25 September 1944, soon went badly wrong for the Allies. Paratroopers were dropped too far from their lines and few made it to their correct targets. Communication was a major issue and the force of the German response had been underestimated.
The Second Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, led by Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost were responsible for securing Arnhem Bridge, but only had a fraction of their planned numbers after the jump. They did succeed in capturing half of the bridge and fought determinedly to defend it for several days against overwhelming odds, but eventually the Germans managed to pin them down and regained control of the area.
Despite the fact that the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden as a whole were a defeat for the Allies, the bravery and valour of Frost’s troops has become the stuff of legend and even inspired the 1977 film, “A Bridge Too Far”.
Today, the bridge at Arnhem is a reconstructed version of the one used in World War Two, as it was bombed by the British around a month after the battle to prevent its further strategic use by the Germans.
In 1977, it was renamed John Frost Bridge after the commander of the British forces tasked with securing it, and today there are a number of memorials and museums nearby. Yearly commemorations also take place at Arnhem Bridge to remember the battle that took place there.
Arnhem Bridge is located in Arnhem in the Netherlands. The nearest train station is Arnhem Velperpoort, a 20-minute walk away, while a number of bus services stop of Arnhem, Airborneplein, a 5-minute walk away.
]]>Richard, Duke of York, with his son Edmund Earl of Rutland, fled to Ireland and the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury went to Calais, taking the York’s older son, Edward Earl of March with them.
The Ludford Bridge is still in existence and can be seen today.
Prior to the battle, merchant ships from Lübeck and Spain were attacked by the Earl of Warwick on pretence of enforcing English sovereignty in the Channel. However, the attacks were really a means for Warwick to raise money through plundering the merchants so he could pay his army.
Warwick was summoned to the royal court to answer for his actions, but when challenged there was a violent clash between the King’s council and Warwick’s men. Claiming his life had been threatened, Warwick returned to Calais while the Queen, Margaret of Anjou mustered her forces and incited Warwick, Salisbury and York for rebellion.
Although the Yorkists had had a victory at Blore Heath, the tide turned at the Battle of Ludford Bridge 3 weeks later, on 12 October 1459. Faced with a Lancastrian army led by King Henry, the Yorkists found themselves stuck in Worcester unable to move south. Richard of York now realised many of his men would refuse to fight the king himself – especially as Henry offered pardon to those who would change sides.
York, Salisbury and Warwick abandoned their armies during the night and fled to Wales, leaving their leaderless troops to kneel in submission on the dawn of 13 October. They were pardoned.
Today, the unshakeable Ludford Bridge continues to stand across the River Teme after centuries of feet have crossed it into Ludlow. After restoration in the 18th century and recent widening, the bridge is a popular feature of the market town and you can both walk and drive over it.
Because there was no actual pitched battle, the Ludford Bridge does not constitute a battlefield site, although the confrontation between Lancaster and York led to the Battle of Sandwich in 1460 as the Yorkist reestablished themselves in England.
Ludford Bridge is located along the B4361 into Ludlow coming from the A49 between Leominster and Shrewsbury. From Birmingham, the bridge is an hour and a half drive via the A456 or you could get the Transport for Wales train from New Street to Shrewsbury, then the train to Carmarthen stopping at Ludlow.
]]>Bennelong Point is known to the local indigenous Gadigal people of the Eora nation as Tubowgule.
It was originally a small tidal island which was made up of rocks and a small beach. It is located on the tip of the eastern arm of Sydney Cove, and protrudes into Port Jackson (Sydney’s natural harbour).
For a brief time in 1788, it was known as Cattle Point because it was used to confine cattle that had been brought from Cape Town by the First Fleet.
Later, the newly-arrived convicts then burnt the piles of discarded oyster shells left behind by Aboriginal people in order to make lime for cement mortar. The island then became known as Limeburner’s point.
The most significant and famous moment of the point’s history involves its namesake, an Aboriginal man from the Eora nation called Bennelong. He was employed as a cultural interlocutor by the British, and had a brick hut built for him on the point.
In 1798 a half-moon battery was constructed at the northernmost end of Bennelong Point, and was mounted with guns from HMS Supply.
From 1818, the island was connected to the mainland via rocky rubble to provide a basis for Fort Macquarie to be built there. The existence of this rubble was largely forgotten until the late 1950s when both were rediscovered during the excavations related to the construction of Sydney Opera House.
Today the site has become famous for being the home of the Sydney Opera House, which was formally opened in 1973, and hosts over 1,500 performances annually. The construction of the well-known building has left little trace of the earlier incarnations of the point, including Bennelong’s Hut.
Efforts are being made to raise the profile of sites that relate to the history of Australia’s Indigenous people; for instance, Bennelong’s grave, which ’til now has been marked very humbly, will soon be commemorated by a monument.
From the centre of Sydney, the point – and the opera house – are reachable in around 20 minutes via Elizabeth St. By car, it takes around 5 minutes via Macquarie St, and a regular metro service includes the ‘Circular Quay’ stop, from where the point is around a 10 minute walk.
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Planning for a bridge to connect New York and Brooklyn, then two separate cities, began as early as 1800, however its construction did not begin until 1869. Its groundbreaking design was the masterwork of John Augustus Roebling, who tragically died in an on-site accident very early in construction, after which his son Washington Roebling took over operations. Washington himself would suffer a vicious attack of decompression sickness while working on the site, forcing him to dictate its construction from his apartment in Brooklyn with the help of his wife Emily (a fellow engineer), and a pair of binoculars!
When it was at last unveiled on 24 May, 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge ever built, and its towers made it the tallest construction in the Western Hemisphere. It was also the first to use steel wires and explosives in the underwater caissons used in construction.
6 days after it opened however, a panicked stampede broke out on the bridge crushing and killing 12 underfoot. The public’s uneasiness regarding its stability may have been the reason for this, with people believing it to have been falling into the river. In 1884, P.T. Barnham marched a herd of 21 elephants, led by the famous Jumbo, over the bridge to lessen fears of its instability and promote his circus.
Today, Brooklyn Bridge remains an iconic feature of New York City’s skyline. The mile-long central walkway takes you over the bustling East River, usually awash with boats, while directly below your feet a buzz of traffic meanders to and from the boroughs.
The bridge’s iconic cables cut an intricate silhouette overhead, while walking towards Manhattan you are afforded a stunning view of the city.
A pleasant visit while on the Brooklyn side of the bridge is Jane’s Carousel, situated in Brooklyn Bridge park. At almost 100 years old, the carousel provides a charming ride against the dramatic backdrop of the famous bridge and accompanying river.
If walking the bridge from Brooklyn there are two entrances – The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place, and the underpass on Washington Street that leads up to the walkway itself. The closest subway station is High Street-Brooklyn Bridge Stop, however to incorporate a walk through historic Brooklyn, Clark Street Station is also a good option.
On the Manhattan side, Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walk is situated in the northeast corner of City Hall Park on Centre Street. The closest subway stations are Brooklyn-Bridge-City Hall, Chambers Street and City Hall.
]]>The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede, a prime spot for Atlantic salmon fishers. Salmon fishing had been happening in the area since the early 17th century, but it was only in 1755 that fishermen erected a bridge in order to reduce reliance on boats to be ferried to the island.
In the 19th century and early 20th century, the salmon fishing boomed in these waters, with up to 300 salmon being caught a day until the 1960s. 80 fishers and 21 salmon fishers are recorded as working in Ballintoy Parish at its peak.
The bridge has been replaced and rethought many times over the years. In the 1970s, for example, it was particularly precarious, with only a single handrail and large gaps in between slats. This was replaced in 2000 by a bridge tested up to 10 tonnes, but this was replcaed in 2004 and 2008 respectively. The current bridge is made from wire rope and Douglas fir: constructed in Belfast, it cost over 16,000.
The salmon fishing industry in the area is long since over: the last salmon was caught in 2002. Increased pollution and over-fishing meant the industry was no longer viable. From 300 a day, in the final years only 250 salmon were caught over the whole season.
For most visitors, the appeal of the rope bridge is crossing it: it’s monitored by volunteers and can only take a limited number of people at any one time. The stairs are quite steep to access it, and it’s certainly not one for people who are afraid of heights. The bridge is monitored and inspected regularly but it’s still a long way down to the rocks below! Terrorstruck visitors have been known to be rescued from Carrickarede Island by boat from time to time.
Unsurprisingly, the bridge is closed during high winds: check the forecast before visiting.
Carrick-A-Rede is accessed via coastal footpath from the nearby car park. Head west from Ballycastle for about 5 miles on the B15: the turn off for the car park is just before you enter Ballintoy, and clearly marked by brown National Trust signs.
If you’re coming by bus, the Ulsterbus 172 (Coleraine), the Ulsterbus 252 and 256 (Belfast); and Service 402 Causeway Rambler close by. You’ll need to walk the last stretch to the car park and start of the National Trust footpath.
]]>Construction of Charles Bridge began during the reign of Charles IV in 1357 to replace the Judita Bridge which had been damaged by a flood in 1342. When it was completed at the beginning of the fifteenth century, Charles Bridge, then known as “Stone Bridge” was the only means the of crossing the river, a vital connection between Prague Castle and the Old Town and a trade route. It was renamed as “Charles Bridge” in 1870.
This impressive 516 meter-long gothic bridge is made of Bohemian sandstone, with sixteen arches and three towers. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Charles Bridge was adorned with around thirty Baroque statues depicting saints and patron saints, and although there are now over seventy statues on the bridge they are all copies, the originals having been damaged, destroyed or moved for safekeeping. Many of them are now housed in Prague’s National Museum.
Charles Bridge has been the site of many important historical events in Czech history. In the 17th century, it was where the heads of those executed following the anti-Habsburg revolt were displayed, and it was the scene of ferocious fighting during the Thirty Years’ War. The bridge has also been subjected to many natural disasters, including several floods dating back as far as the 15th century.
Today, Charles Bridge is a vibrant tourist attraction, with painters, traders and kiosks sprawled across it. Keep one eye out for pickpockets and the other on the view. The bridge itself is enchanting and offers great views of the city. Go early or late to avoid the crush of tourists in the middle of the day in high season.
Charles Bridge spans the Vitava – it’s hard to miss. Head west from Old Town Square down Linhartska and then on to Karlova, which will take you straight to one edge of the bridge. The bridge joins the west bank of the Vitava close to the Lennon Wall.
]]>The first bridges across the Avon in Bristol date back to the 13th century (if not earlier), and as traffic increased and resentment at the tolls charged to cross bridges grew, it became clear Bristol’s bridge problem wasn’t going to go away. In 1753, a Bristol-based merchant, William Vick, left a bequest of £1000 to the city to build a stone bridge between Clifton Down and Leigh Woods. Plans were drawn up several times, but nothing came to fruition – meanwhile, Vick’s bequest grew slowly.
In 1829, a competition was held to design a bridge, with a prize of 100 guineas. After several years of financial negotiations and re-designs, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was declared the winner: his design had been altered from original plans to include fashionable Egyptian influenced towers. Construction began in 1831.
However, Brunel died before the bridge was finished: it was officially opened in 1864, following years of uncertainty, financial difficulties and construction issues (including how to transport building materials to the top of the gorge).
The bridge stands 75m above the river Avon – high enough to allow boats in and out of Bristol Harbour. Many consider one of the greatest feats of Victorian engineering on display in Britain today.
The bridge is open to motor traffic as well as pedestrians: since 2007, a toll has been imposed on cars driving across the bridge. There is a spectacular view of Bristol Harbour and up the Avon Gorge from the bridge: it’s worth walking the full way across on both the north and south side of the bridge to take it in.
The Visitor Centre is on the Leigh Woods side of the bridge, and contains a more detailed explanation of the bridge’s construction and history right up to the modern day.
For a view of the bridge itself, climb up the hill on the Clifton side towards the Clifton Observatory: it’s a popular place for a picnic on sunny days and can be busy. Go on a clear evening to see the bridge illuminated.
From the north side of the bridge you’ll be able to spot Ghyston’s Cave in the cliff face below the Observatory. Tours of the caves leave from the Observatory, and offer an excellent view of the bridge.
The bridge can be driven across, but the best views come from being on foot. Nearby Clifton Village has parking should you wish to drive, otherwise the 8/9 First Bus takes you from the city centre to Clifton Village. It’s about a 30 minute walk with some steep uphills from the harbourside to the bridge itself.
]]>Rather than simply an object of beauty which it undoubtedly is, the bridge was a vital player in the city of Cordoba’s battles with, amongst others, the ominously-named Peter the Cruel in the 1350s.
Cordoba Roman Bridge was built in the 1st century BC and straddles the 657 kilometre Guadalquivir River. The bridge has 16 arches supported by irregular semi-cylindrical buttresses and is 247 metres long by approximately 9 metres wide.
At the southern end is the Torre de la Calahorra (Calahorra Tower), a fortified tower built in the 12th century by the resident Almohad Caliphate to protect the bridge and at the northern end is the Puerta del Puente (Gate of the Bridge) built over 300 years later in the 1570s.
The original bridge was probably wooden before it got replaced and it has undergone a number of reconstructions over the centuries. In the 17th century a sculpture of St. Raphael was added to the eastern side by renowned Renaissance sculptor Bernabé Gómez del Rio.
In the famous TV series Game of Thrones, the Roman Bridge of Cordoba doubled as ‘The Long Bridge of Volantis’ spanning the mouth of the Rhoyne River.
Today, while only the 14th and 15th arches from the northern end are original the Roman Bridge continues to form an unmissable part of Cordoba’s ancient centre – particularly at dusk when the sun lingers on the golden red stone and highlights the arches. Visitors to the historic city can walk the bridge in either direction, from the Great Mosque to the Torre de Calahorra at the south end.
Located in Cordoba’s historic centre, the 03 and 12 buses stop at the Puerta del Puente at the north end of the bridge while the 12 and 14 stop at the south.
]]>Made up of three bridges of differing ages built on top of one another, Devil’s Bridge and the waterfalls attract thousands of tourists every year and is one of the most well-known and picturesque attractions in Wales.
Records indicate that Devil’s Bridge has been a tourist attraction for centuries, and that an inn or hotel has existed nearby since before 1796. Since the 1860s, the main hotel on site is Hafod Hotel next to the Afon Mynach river, a tributary of the Rheidol.
According to legend, the original bridge over the river earned its name because of an old woman who lost her cow and saw it grazing on the opposite bank. The Devil appeared and promised to build a bridge in exchange for the soul of the first living thing to cross it. When the Devil had finished the bridge, the old woman threw a crust of bread over the river, which the dog crossed the bridge to retrieve. Thus, the Devil was left only with the soul of the dog.
The original bridge is thought to have been built in c.1075-1200. The second was built in 1753 and improved in 1777 and 1814, and used the original bridge for scaffolding. The final bridge was built in 1901 and underwent various repairs over coming decades. It was Grade II listed in 1964 ‘as a remarkable succession of three superimposed bridges, one of the best known picturesque sites in Wales.’
Famed British artist JMW Turner’s sketch of the bridge is now able to view at the Tate Gallery in London, while poet William Wordsworth wrote To the Torrent at the Devil’s Bridge, North Wales about the bridges in 1824.
Today, the bridge is a very popular tourist attraction. Nearby are five stone steps, known as Jacob’s Ladder, which descend to a modern metal bridge below the waterfalls.
There is also a nearby nature trail and historic steam railway, while there are many other attractions located a short drive away in Aberystwyth.
The address for the Devil’s Bridge area is Woodlands (referring to the caravan park where free parking is available), Devil’s Bridge, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 3JW. The bridge is on the A4120, with sign posts providing guidance from the village centre.
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