Travel. Southern Europe. Portugal.
How To Visit 516 Arouca: The World’s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
Follow the roadmap to a bridge not too far and step into the most breathtaking 516 meters of your life
The 516 Arouca bridge is the world’s largest suspension pedestrian bridge located in the Arouca municipality, Aveiro district, Portugal.
In 2016 the City Council of Arouca had the insight to connect the two banks of the Paiva river in the Alvarenga area to complement the network of built-in walkways, hence facilitating access to them from Alvarenga and allow the elevated view of the neighboring Aguieira waterfall.
After the location was defined, the shape of the deck was idealized. In terms of longitudinal profile, the engineering design forms a concave line inspired by the archetype concept of suspension bridges popularized by ancient civilizations like the South American Incas.
Considered a modern engineering feat, the new crossing of the Paiva River surpasses the former titleholder, the Charles Kuonen Bridge, Switzerland, by 20 meters. The bridge opened for the first time on April 29, 2021, to residents of the municipality.
