Spectacular world’s longest suspension footbridge opens in Czech Republic
Story by Francesca Street, CNN. Video by Teodora Preda, CNN
Walking from one mountain to another, suspended high above ground with only a vast valley yawning below, isn’t for the fainthearted.
But thrill-seekers — and lovers of infrastructure — will be flocking to the Dolnà Morava vacation resort in the northeast of the Czech Republic to scale the new world’s longest suspension footbridge.
Under construction for the past two years, the 721-meter-long-span (2,365 feet), appropriately named Sky Bridge 721, officially opened on May 13. The walkway promises spectacular views of the cloud-shrouded JesenÃky mountains, and an overall electrifying, albeit slightly terrifying, experience.
New world record
Austrian blogger Victoria Fellner visited Sky Bridge 721 earlier this week as part of a preview event, sharing photos on her Instagram account.
Fellner told CNN Travel that taking her first step on the bridge gave her a “queasy feeling.”
But this initial fear subsided as she admired the surrounding landscape.
“I was afraid that the suspension bridge would shake a lot, but it wasn’t that bad,” said Fellner. “The view is really impressive and you can even see the forest below through the trellis! Luckily I’m not afraid of heights.”
Sky Bridge 721, suspended by cables, hangs 95 meters above the valley floor and spans between 1,110 and 1,116 meters above sea level. The bridge can be accessed by cable car and walking across is a one-way deal. Upon exiting the walkway at the other side, visitors can make their way along a paved forest path lined with signs detailing Czech history. There’s also a corresponding virtual reality phone game.
The 1.2-meter-wide Sky Bridge is open to children of all ages and heights, but is not suitable for people with pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Travelers must currently book Sky Bridge 721 tickets ahead of time on the Dolnà Morava website, with prices for adults starting at 350 Czech Koruna (around $14.60).
Dolnà Morava, situated on the Czech border with Poland, is a vacation spot that’s also home to ski slopes, an alpine roller coaster purporting to be the second longest in Europe, a mountaintop restaurant and an attraction called the Sky Walk — a curved structure with a wooden walkway and slide located 1,116 meters above sea level.
The Czech Republic Sky Bridge is 154 meters longer than the current Guinness World Record holder suspension footbridge, the Baglung Parbat Footbridge in Gandaki Province, Nepal.
Sky Bridge 721 is around 2.5 hours drive from Czech capital city Prague.
The-CNN-Wire
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