From the history of one city. "Dragon Bridge".

By the will of circumstances, I had a lot of free time. And I am in my hometown. It is a sin not to use such an opportunity and not to introduce you to Sebastopol, where sometimes it seems that there are more historical monuments than residents.

My last historical post was devoted to the “Monument to the Scuttled Ships”. Looking at him for the last time, we decided to return to the city. And if we turn our back to the monument right on this place, we will see a wonderful bridge under which we have to go.

This bridge is part of a single ensemble with a previous monument, created in honor of the common events of those years and opened with it at the same time. It has the official name "Bridge with Dragons", or "Heraldic Bridge". But if you get on the Internet, among other things, you will find another one - “Bridge of Lovers”.

Moreover, this name prevails over the heroic official ones. Surely got into the network with a light hand of some young journalist in love who has experienced romantic feelings for the local sailor-lieutenant

The bridge was built in 1905 to the 50th anniversary of the end of the defense of Sevastopol. The author of the project was the architect. A. Veizen, from local. He was known in Sebastopol as the author of projects of the city mosque and Karaite Kenassa (prayer house). All these buildings are preserved to this day.

On both sides of the bridge is decorated with stone bas-reliefs, which depict the emblem of Sebastopol attacked by dragons. In the center of the city coat of arms is a griffin - a heraldic symbol of strength and courage, and heraldry of dragons is interpreted as a danger and a threat. So, in the language of symbols, the siege of the city was displayed during the Crimean War of 1854-55.

During the Second World War, the bridge received sensitive damage, stone carving also suffered. It was restored in the late 50s, as it turned out, not entirely accurate. The initial appearance of the dragons was given only in 2008.

Starting this post, I expected to find a lot of archival photos or postcards, but unfortunately I almost did not find them. This is rather strange, as today, like many years ago, many people walk along these paths. But somehow it did not work out with the images. I hope without them the post did not seem boring to you, this bridge is really very cozy and beautiful.

Photos taken by "SONY Xperia M2"

Good luck!

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