Why a bascule bridge
Dziwnów lies on both sides of the Dziwna — the strait that carries the waters of the Szczecin and Kamień lagoons to the Baltic and at the same time separates the island of Wolin from the mainland. Fishing cutters, yachts sailing between the sea and the lagoon and excursion boats pass along the Dziwna regularly. A fixed bridge of normal height would block that traffic, so the crossing was designed as a bascule: normally low, letting pedestrians, cyclists and cars across, and raising its span several times a day to let the boats through.
Earlier the two parts of the town were joined by a pontoon crossing, and in still earlier times by a ferry. The present bridge, opened in 2010, is a steel structure, distinctively painted red, with a mechanism for raising one span. It immediately became Dziwnów's unofficial logo — it appears on postcards, fridge magnets and almost every holiday photograph taken here.
When it is raised
In the summer season the bridge is raised to a set timetable — most often on even hours (10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and so on), for a dozen or so minutes, so that the boats waiting on both sides can pass. The exact times and frequency are adjusted from season to season (and out of season the bridge is raised less often, frequently "on request"), so it is worth checking the current timetable on the boards by the bridge, at the tourist information point or on the district's or harbour's website.
For drivers this means one thing: if you happen to arrive during a raising, you face a stop of a dozen or so minutes on one side — at the height of the season, when traffic is heavy, the queue can grow. Walking across at that moment is simply impossible, since the footway is part of the raised span. The best thing to do is not to fight it but to stay and watch.
Where to watch from
- The quay by the marina and the fishing harbour — the most popular spot: you see both the span rising and the procession of boats beneath
- The promenade along the Dziwna — a walking stretch with benches, good for calm shots from the side
- From the deck of an excursion boat — some trips are timed to pass beneath the raised bridge (the experience from another perspective)
- From the bridge itself just before traffic closes — a view along the river to the harbour and the marina
- At sunset — the red structure against the sky over the Dziwna is the classic Dziwnów photograph
What is right beside it
The bascule bridge is the natural centre of the "watery" part of Dziwnów. On one side is the yacht marina with its basin shaped like the letter "D", on the other the fishing harbour with cutters at their moorings, fish-fry stalls and the jetty for the excursion boats. Nearby there is also a park with a playground and an outdoor gym, and a little further on the seaside promenade and the Avenue of Sporting Stars. You can comfortably spend half a day here, combining a walk along the quay, a fish lunch, a boat trip and watching the bridge go up.
If you plan a day without a car, this is a good starting point: from here it is close both to the beach (over the dunes) and to the harbour for a boat trip, and to the promenade in the evening. On the other hand, at the height of the season the area around the bridge and the quay is one of the most crowded places in town, so for quiet morning photographs it is better to come before 9:00.
How to get there and practical info
- Location
- Dziwnów, the bridge over the Dziwna on the DW102
- Admission
- Free — the bridge is part of a public road
- Raising
- On even hours in season (check the current timetable on the spot)
- Wait during a raising
- Usually a dozen or so minutes
- Best view
- The quay by the marina and the fishing harbour
- Best time for photographs
- Early morning or sunset
When to go
The bridge is raised less often than in summer — check the timetable. But the quay is empty, with good conditions for quiet photographs.
Daily raisings on even hours, crowds on the quay and processions of boats. The most life, but also queues of cars.
September — the boat trips still run and the bridge is raised at weekends or seasonally. In October, less often, but with beautiful light.
The bridge is raised occasionally, "on request". The area is quiet and stormy — for lovers of a raw Baltic.
Other sights in Dziwnów
Straight-line distances from „The bascule bridge over the Dziwna" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
Places from our list that have The bascule bridge over the Dziwna within walking distance or a short drive.
