Vídeňský viadukt Viaduct

Vídeňský viadukt, also known as the Brno viaduct, is a historical railway monument located in the village of Brno-město on the eastern edge of the Staré Brno district. This bridge was built in the 1930s and is part of the first paratrophic railway line in the Austrian Empire, which connected Vienna with Břeclav, Ostrava and Bočná. Viaduct crosses the river Svratku and several local roads and is today protected as a monument in the territory of Brno Central Station.

The creation of the Vienna viaduct was linked to the development of paratropic railways in the Austrian Empire, which were to link the main European centres. The first section of the line from Vranovice to Brno was realized by businessman Franz Klein, a member of the well-known family of Klein. Viaduct was created as part of this track and was built between 1838 and 1839. Regular operation on the section from Vienna to Brno began on July 7, 1839, which meant the launch of the first paratrooper railway line in the Czech Republic.

The original viaduct was one-track and formed from three successive bridge objects. The southernmost part was a five-arch bridge over the Svratek River, which had a light aperture of 9,5 meters and was built from brick vaults lined with stone blocks. There was a walled viaduct of 637 metres in length with 72 arches with elliptic arches which had a clearance of 7.6 metres. The third part consisted of a bridge with three oblique segmented arches for the passage of the road and Svratecký's drive.

In 1869 the viaduct was extended by a second track in connection with the construction of the line from Brno to Přerov. This section was double-lined and similar stone vaults were added to the west side of the original bridge, increasing the width of the viaduct to about 10 metres. Over the years, further adjustments were made, especially in the 1990s, when most of the viaduct was buried in the embankment and replaced by new structures made of concrete and steel.

The ownership and administration of the viaduct throughout the whole time belonged to the North Way of Emperor Ferdinand (KFNB), which was associated with problems of undisputed spatial limitations in Brno. In the 1990s, the viaduct was fundamentally rebuilt when KFNB purchased the land under the New Sets and built a new freight station with a modern warehouse. The Viaduct became part of a massive emblem, while the most preserved section across the Svratku River was extended for further tracks.

Key events in the history of viaducts include electrification of the line over the bridge in 1967 and the declaration of monument protection of the entire complex of Brno Central Station, including the viaduct, in 1983. There are also plans for possible detection and revitalisation of the viaduct as part of the city park in the event of the transfer of the main station.

Today, Vídeňský viadukt is an important part of Brno infrastructure, which serves as a link for the railway line leading to Breclav, Přerov, Jihlava and Hrušvan nad Jevišovka. The most significant part of the bridge over the Svratku River remains as a monument-protected structure that shows historical significance and architectural art of the 19th century.

Visiting the Vienna Viaduct offers a unique opportunity to explore important building monuments from the period of industrial revolution. The Viaduct is not only a technical milestone but also a witness to the history and development of railway transport in the region. His visit brings an understanding of the importance of infrastructure progress for local and European society.