The remains of the pillars can still be seen: what the unique Chain Bridge looked like in Kyiv. Archival photos

The first major bridge in Kyiv was the Mykolaiv Chain Bridge, which existed from 1853 to 1920 and was located almost at the same place as the Metro Bridge. Thanks to old photos, we can see and appreciate its beauty.

The old photos were published on the Telegram channel of the "Kyiv Living History" community. Unfortunately, the overpass was destroyed more than 100 years ago.

"The Mykolaiv Chain Bridge is the first major bridge across the Dnipro River in Kyiv, which existed in 1853-1920," the post reads.

It is worth adding that the bridge, 776 meters long and 16 meters wide, was one of the greatest architectural achievements of its time. A silver model of the bridge was exhibited in London at the 1851 World's Fair.

At dawn on August 14, 1859, the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko left for St. Petersburg by stagecoach across the Chain Bridge. In May 1861, the poet returned along the same road in his coffin. Students of St. Volodymyr's University escorted him across the Chain Bridge, unharnessing the horses from the cart, and then along the embankment to the Church of the Nativity on Podil.

It was blown up by retreating Polish troops, and it was not possible to rebuild it according to the old design. Nowadays, when the water in the Dnipro River drops significantly, you can still see the remains of its pillars from the Metro Bridge.

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