Eiffel Bridge in Ungheni: a border bridge with a borrowed name
The Eiffel Bridge (Podul Eiffel) is a metal bridge over the River Prut between the two towns called Ungheni, one in Romania and one in Moldova, and it is a border checkpoint. It is a plain but historic crossing, remembered above all for the 1990 Bridge of Flowers, and an easy short trip from Iași.
The bridge carries Gustave Eiffel’s name, yet the first metal bridge here was designed by a Russian engineer; the name was made official only in 2012, on a mistaken attribution.
The history of the Eiffel Bridge at Ungheni
Before the Second World War, 27 bridges linked the banks of the Prut between what are now Moldova and Romania. The Ungheni bridge belongs to the oldest of them and is tied to the railway. On 18 May 1872 (6 May in the old calendar), a Russian diplomatic agent, Ivan Zinov’ev, and the Romanian Gheorghe Costaforu signed a convention on joining the Russian and Romanian railway lines on the Iași–Chișinău route. It was ratified in January 1873.
The Iași–Ungheni railway opened on 1 August 1874. The Chișinău–Cornești–Ungheni line, built in 1871–1875, was opened on 1 June 1875 by the Russian Empire, in preparation for the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Ungheni customs were set up in 1875, once the Chișinău–Ungheni–Iași line was working.
The first metal bridge was built from a design by the Russian engineer Nikolai Belelubsky between 1874 and 1876. The first Russian troops crossed it in 1877. Because a testing process lasted another five years, the bridge came into civilian use only in 1881. Later, Gustave Eiffel was wrongly assumed to be the author of the project, and his name became the bridge’s official name on 20 April 2012, by a decision of the Ungheni town council.
War then left its mark on the crossing. Retreating Russian troops blew the bridge up on 22 June 1941, and it was rebuilt for the German-Romanian troops. It was bombed in 1944 and rebuilt by the Russians between 1944 and 1946.
On 6 May 1990 this bridge became the centrepiece of the Bridge of Flowers, when tens of thousands of Romanians from both banks of the river met and embraced after about half a century of separation. Since 1991 the Prut has been the border between Romania and Moldova, and the bridge remains a strategically placed crossing under the supervision of border guards.
Curiosities about the Eiffel Bridge at Ungheni
- The bridge’s link with Gustave Eiffel is not supported by the Romanian account, which says the design was by the Russian engineer Nikolai Belelubsky; the name Eiffel became official only on 20 April 2012.
- Before the Second World War there were 27 bridges across the Prut between the territories that are now Moldova and Romania.
- After being completed in 1876, the bridge needed another five years of testing and entered civilian use only in 1881.
- On 6 May 1990 tens of thousands of people from both sides of the Prut met on the bridge in the Bridge of Flowers event.
- The bridge was blown up on 22 June 1941 by retreating Russian troops and rebuilt for German-Romanian forces; after it was bombed in 1944, it was rebuilt again by 1946.
- The two Unghenis, one on each bank of the Prut, share a name and are linked by this bridge.
Tours near Eiffel Bridge, Ungheni
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting the Eiffel Bridge at Ungheni: what to know
- The bridge is a working border checkpoint under the supervision of border guards, so it is a place to see rather than linger; check beforehand what is allowed near the border.
- It is a metal structure over the Prut, notable for its place in railway and border history rather than for decoration.
- The Bridge of Flowers of 6 May 1990 is the best-known story connected with it and gives the visit its meaning.
- The crossing lies about 15–17 km from Iași, so it fits easily with the city’s monasteries, such as Golia, Trei Ierarhi and Cetățuia.
- Rules for crossing and for visiting the area can change, so check current information before you go.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Eiffel Bridge, Ungheni is
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Photos of Eiffel Bridge, Ungheni
Questions
Where is the Eiffel Bridge in Ungheni?
It crosses the River Prut between Ungheni in Iași County, Romania, and Ungheni in Moldova, about 15–17 km from Iași.
Did Gustave Eiffel really design the Eiffel Bridge?
According to the Romanian account, no: the first metal bridge was designed by the Russian engineer Nikolai Belelubsky, and the name Eiffel became official only in 2012, on a mistaken attribution.
When was the Eiffel Bridge at Ungheni built?
The first metal bridge was built between 1874 and 1876. It entered civilian use in 1881, after five more years of testing.
What was the Bridge of Flowers?
On 6 May 1990 tens of thousands of Romanians from both banks of the Prut met and embraced on this bridge after about half a century of separation.
Is the Eiffel Bridge still a border crossing?
Yes. It is a checkpoint between Moldova and Romania and is supervised by border guards.
What can you see near the Eiffel Bridge in Ungheni?
In Iași, Golia Monastery (about 15 km), Trei Ierarhi Monastery (about 16 km), Cetățuia Monastery and the Lions’ Obelisk (about 17 km each).
Also nearby
Golia Monastery
Iași · walled monastery with a 120-step tower
15 km away
Trei Ierarhi Monastery
Iași · the church with façades carved like lace
16 km away
Lions’ Obelisk
Iași · four lions and an obelisk in Copou Park
17 km away
Cetățuia Monastery
Iași · fortified monastery on a hill above the city
17 km away