by November 1900Pontoon Bridge
Novi Sad across the Danube, with the pontoon bridge
Novi Sad seen from the heights of Petrovaradin across the Danube. The pontoon bridge of moored barges crosses the water to the Novi Sad bank, where the small chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk stands among trees at the bridgehead, and laden barges lie on the river to the right. Beyond the riverside trees the town stretches flat to the horizon, with the neo-Gothic spire of the Name of Mary Church at its centre and lower towers on either side. The view is printed in a round frame headed Panorama-Neusatz and Újvidék látképe, published in Novi Sad by the court photographer Josef Singer. He also issued the same photograph as an excursion card, Ausflug aus Neusatz nach Peterwardein, one of which went through the post in May 1909, and another publisher's printing was posted in November 1900.
Photographed by Josef Singer · Published by Josef Singer
About this place
Before any permanent bridge stood here, Novi Sad and Petrovaradin were joined by a wooden pontoon bridge laid across the Danube on oak floats. Crossings of this kind were used from the late seventeenth century, and the first standing bridge dates from 1788; it was known as Hagen's bridge after the officer, Baron von Hagen, who designed it on the model of one at Mannheim. It was laid each spring by the pontonier unit stationed at Petrovaradin and taken up again before the first ice, and its middle section could be drawn aside to let river traffic through. Carts paid a toll while anything carried by hand went free, residents of the two towns crossed without charge, and the season opened every year with a handshake between the mayor of Novi Sad and the commandant of the fortress. The bridge was removed for the last time in 1918, when work began on the permanent crossing that became the Prince Tomislav bridge.
On the card
Panorama-Neusatz. / Újvidék látképe. / Verlag: J. Singer, Hoffotograf, Neusatz.
Panorama of Novi Sad. / View of Novi Sad. / Published by J. Singer, court photographer, Novi Sad.
- Date
- by November 1900
- Coordinates
- 45.25463, 19.85729
- Source
- Zempléni Múzeum, Szerencs - képeslapok
- Credit
- Zempléni Múzeum, Szerencs
- Licence
- Public domain
- Size
- 2374 × 1546 px
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