Places

The railway bridge over the Radew River in Karlino is one of the most characteristic bridges in the entire West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The 90-metre-long structure was built in 1859 for the launch of the railway and still serves its original purpose today. It is currently part of railway line no. 404, which is just under 100 km long and connects Szczecinek with Kołobrzeg.

The first train crossed it on 1 June 1859. It is said that the opening ceremony was attended by Wilhelm I Hohenzollern, later Emperor of the Second German Reich.

Although it is hard to believe, the bridge, which was a strategic site from a military point of view, was not destroyed during the war in 1945.

As a result, we can still admire its original form today. The bridge was made of red brick in an arched structure. It shows incredible craftsmanship and attention to architectural detail, such as the most distinctive four ornamental window openings, known as rose windows, located at each of the four pillars. Numerous drawings and technical sketches relating to the construction of the building have also survived to this day.

It is a nice idea to visit the promenade on Nadbrzeżna Street. There, in the vicinity of the canoe marina at the Cardinal Karol Wojtyła canoeing trail, we can get the best shot of the famous Karlino Bridge. It is probably the same perspective as the future Pope saw on 16 July 1965, when the archbishop and metropolitan of Kraków ended his canoeing trip down the River Radew at this very spot.