You can now cross the longest pedestrian bridge in the world!
Updated on the day: 05/11/2021. 516 are the meters What does he measure and what have they turned him into? the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. Arouca, the region of Portugal where it is located, about 60 kilometers southeast of Port . Your name? 516 Arouca, a new and exciting adventure that opened to the public on May 2.
To that length, let's add that the The floor of the bridge has been built with a metal grille that reveals the wonderful nature that is 175 meters high. that separate the bridge from the Paiva river bed. Because the landscape show will be worth admiring, but not suitable for people with vertigo.
And it is that the 516 Arouca is in the Arouca Geopark, included in the UNESCO Global Network of Geoparks, and together with the pedestrian rack that are the Passadiços do Paiva, the wooden paths that run through the valley.
The landscape show will be worth admiring, but not suitable for people with vertigo
Designed by the Itecons architecture studio, it is slim and thin, barely firm bars, resistant cables and rigid meshes that cross the horizon without interfering too much with the view.
For the mayor Margarida Belem , 516 Arouca is "a remarkable work of national engineering and without a doubt it will be one of the most emblematic structures of the municipality of Arouca and the country and that will surely become a milestone of modernity”.
As with the Paiva Footbridges, Margarida Belém is convinced that this bridge "will strengthen the economic and tourist competitiveness of this territory with the recognition of UNESCO, enabling the creation of new experiences for existing tour operators, as well as the creation of new jobs and companies, especially in the local tourism sector”.
"It will therefore be an important asset for the reactivation of the economy and tourism at the local and regional level" she adds.
It was in 2016 when the idea for this bridge began to take shape, although construction would not begin until a year later, in 2017. After three years of work, a change of location due to unforeseen geological problems and difficulties related to construction, 516 Arouca is now a reality.
The 516 Arouca is located in the Arouca Geopark, included in the UNESCO Global Network of Geoparks
Lovers of engineering, nature or extreme experiences. Those responsible count on attracting different profiles of travelers. “It will be an impressive experience of observation and promotion of the cultural and natural heritage of the area”, they explain to Traveler.es.
“As happened with the Passadiços do Paiva, We hope that this bridge will contribute to improving economic activity in the region, specifically within the Arouca region. These projects have shown that they are strategic for the promotion and preservation of the Paiva River, including the biodiversity of the entire region”, they conclude.
USEFUL DATA
The 516 Arouca bridge can be reached in two ways. First, through the Areinho river beach, walking part of the Paiva Footbridges and accessing the pedestrian suspension bridge. If you want a less physically demanding route, you should drive to the parish of Alvarenga and, from the parks of the Market or the soccer field, you can do the route on foot along old paths that cross fields and picturesque places such as Vila and Chieira.
The longest pedestrian suspension bridge crossing can be done in both directions (round trip) or in one direction, in the direction of the Paiva Footbridges or the historic center of Alvarenga, depending on the point of entry to the bridge.
Do you dare to live this exciting adventure?
When purchasing access tickets, you must choose a time slot for the visit. Visitors must be at the meeting point, set for this purpose, 15 minutes before the scheduled time. The visit will start exactly at the agreed time.
Limited to a maximum of 50 people at the same time, the visit to 516 Arouca will always be accompanied by a guide and lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The guide will meet the visitors at the place identified for this purpose and will accompany the group to the entrance of the pedestrian suspension bridge. There will be an informative session on the infrastructure and the landscape, and information will be given on the rules and the care that must be taken during the visit. Tours are available in Portuguese and English.
The general admission price to access 516 Arouca is €12. Access to children under 6 years of age is prohibited and for the rest of the age groups there are specific discounts. You can buy tickets here.
175 meters separate the center of the bridge from the ground. Who said vertigo?