One of the most famous bridges in Europe, created by Gustave Eiffel's collaborator in 1886, can be found in Porto. It is the Ponte de Dom Luís I, the King Louis I Bridge, which crosses the Douro River between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia on two different levels.
The lower bridge deck connects the banks just a few metres above the water and serves cars and pedestrians. The upper bridge bridge then crosses the valley at 175 metres , 45 metres above the water, and can only be used by pedestrians and the rapid transit tram (known as the metro in Porto).
Architecture and history
In many information materials you will come across the misinformation that the Louis I Bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel himself. This famous architect, whose most famous work is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, did come up with a first proposal, but it was rejected. It only included a single-level bridge so that large ships could pass along the river.
However, due to the considerable growth of the city, it was decided that a two-level bridge would have to be built, even at the cost of preventing the passage of taller ships (the lower bridge deck is not liftable). This proposal was put forward by the German architect Théophile Seyring, who worked closely with Eiffel. He is, after all, the co-founder of Eiffel and Company.
The bridge was put into service in 1886 and has a typical "Eiffel" architecture in the form of a simple steel structure.
The Eiffel Company and Théophile Seyring also designed the Ponte Maria Pia, a similar-looking railway bridge from 1877 with only one bridge deck, located less than a kilometre upriver from the Louis I Bridge.
The best view of Porto
The top bridge offers one of the best views of the Douro River, downtown Porto and the rooftops of the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. The best time for views is early morning, when the centre of Porto is beautifully sun-drenched, or in the evening, when you can instead enjoy breathtaking sunsets.
Accommodation overlooking the bridge
As Ponte de Dom Luís I is a major Port landmark, many travellers look for a hotel or apartment with a view of the bridge or at least in close proximity to the structure.
One of the best rated accommodations will provide private apartments Porto View by Patio 25 with a good price of around 99 eur per night for 2, which is the minimum that can be achieved for this area.
The nearest classic hotel with a divine view of the bridge and the city is the more luxurious Vincci Ponte de Ferro ****.
Transport to the bridge
The yellow D line of the Porto metro runs along the upper bridge deck. The nearest stations to the bridge are Jardim do Morro on the Vila Nova de Gaia side of town and São Bento on the Porto side.
Bus lines 900, 901 and 906 run along the lower bridge deck.
What to see around
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