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Bridge · Piešťany, Trnava
Colonnade Bridge
Covered pedestrian bridge over the Váh, built between 1930 and 1933 by Emil Belluš, a landmark of Slovak functionalist architecture. It links the town center to the Spa Island and, at the town end, displays the spa’s symbol, a figure breaking its own crutch.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Colonnade Bridge
The Colonnade Bridge (Kolonádový most) crosses a branch of the Váh River and connects the center of Piešťany to the Spa Island. It was designed by architect Emil Belluš and built between 1930 and 1933 on the site of an old wooden bridge. It is one of the best-known works of Slovakia’s functionalist architecture and the country’s longest covered bridge.
A longitudinal wall divides the bridge into two sides, with glass facing the river and small shops along the walkway. The glass panels feature engravings based on drawings by the painter Martin Benka, with themes from rural life; the originals were replaced by copies to protect them.
At the entrances are two Latin inscriptions: on the town side, Saluberrimae Pistinienses Thermae, “the salutary baths of Piešťany,” taken from a 17th-century poem; on the island side, Surge et ambula, “rise and walk,” a phrase from the Gospel that sums up the spa’s promise.
At the town end stands a bronze figure of a man breaking his own crutch, a work by sculptor Robert Kühmayer from 1933. The figure became Piešťany’s symbol and appears on the town’s coat of arms.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 15 to 30 minutes to cross slowly and see the engravings and the statue.
Best time
At dusk, when the sun shines sideways through the glass and reflects on the river. The passage is open year-round.
How to get there
It is at the end of the pedestrian street in the center; on the opposite side it opens onto the Spa Island.
Tip
Cross on one side to see the engravings and the river, and return on the other. Photograph the statue from the town side with the bridge in the background.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Colonnade Bridge
Who designed the Colonnade Bridge in Piešťany?
The architect Emil Belluš. The bridge was built between 1930 and 1933 in the functionalist style.
What do the inscriptions on the Colonnade Bridge mean?
On the town side, Saluberrimae Pistinienses Thermae, “the salutary baths of Piešťany”; on the island side, Surge et ambula, “rise and walk.”
Can you cross the Colonnade Bridge on foot?
Yes. It is a pedestrian bridge, free to pass, that connects the center to the Spa Island.