Bridge over the Mleczna River in Katowice

The bridge over the Mleczna is a historic river crossing in Podlesie in Katowice, built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It has been in the heritage register since 20 February 1984.

A trade route and successive bridges

The two banks of the Mleczna were linked at this spot by wooden bridges rebuilt from time to time. Since the Middle Ages the Pszczyna branch of the trade route from Kraków through Gliwice to Wrocław passed this way. The present structure was built in 1898 or 1900.

A structure of stone and brick

The bridge has an arched structure. It was built of hewn stone and partly of brick. It consists of two spans with segmental arches, resting on massive stone piers, and the arches of the spans are of brick. The roadway is protected by an ornamental metal balustrade stretched between brick posts.

From a road bridge to a walking route

The bridge once carried local road traffic. After a renovation in the early 1990s and later vandalism it was closed to traffic and serves as a walking stretch. After it was closed to traffic, the bridge was rebuilt once more, in 2021. A few kilometres further on lies Zadole Park.

Practical information

• Location: Zaopusta Street, Katowice-Podlesie.
• The bridge is accessible to pedestrians in open terrain, with no tickets.