Zprávy památkové péče 2025, 85(2):130-144 | DOI: 10.56112/zpp.2025.2.04

History and preservation of the stone arch bridge in Poniklá on the Jizera River

Michal Panáček¹, Pavel Jakubec², Petr Řeřicha³, Petr Fajman³

¹ Dokumentace a průzkumy historických staveb, Česká Lípa

² Státní okresní archiv Semily

³ Katedra mechaniky Stavební fakulty ČVUT v Praze

The article describes the appearance of the oldest historical stone arch bridge over the Jizera River in Poniklá, its construction development, and efforts to preserve it. The bridge was threatened with unnecessary demolition in 2021 due to poor political decisions, but thanks to the concerted efforts of experts and the general public, this was averted and the bridge was declared a cultural heritage property. The bridge is a very valuable structural and architectural work documenting the development of the state road network of regional roads around the middle of the 19th century. It was built no later than 1853 of high-quality worked sandstone and underwent careful repairs in the second half of the 1930s. It is not currently in a state of disrepair, but the insulation of the barrel vaults, drainage and road surface require restoration. The owner of the bridge, the Liberec Region, has made a fundamental change in its approach and is preparing for its complete and careful reconstruction.

Keywords: Poniklá; stone bridge; arch bridge; history; preservation

Published: December 22, 2025  Show citation