Railway Viaducts over the Łyna

The Railway Viaducts over the Łyna are a pair of monumental red-brick railway bridges that span the Łyna river valley in Olsztyn, and people come mainly for the photographs. The older of the two was built in 1871-1872, when the railway first reached the city. Roughly 70 metres long and rising more than 21 metres above the valley floor, their tall arched spans give the landscape a strong industrial character that has made them a favourite subject for local and visiting photographers.

Two red-brick viaducts stand side by side across the Łyna valley, carrying rail lines high above the river and greenery below. The masonry is built up in tall arched spans, and from the valley floor you look up at more than 21 metres of brickwork stretching around 70 metres across. The scale and the repeating arches are what draw photographers, especially from the lower footpaths where you can frame the full height of the structure against the trees and water.

The older viaduct dates to 1871-1872, the period when the railway reached Olsztyn and connected the city to the wider network. Brick viaducts of this kind were a common solution for carrying tracks across river valleys in the region, and this pair has remained a defining feature of the Łyna landscape ever since. For anyone interested in 19th-century engineering and industrial heritage, the structures are a tangible reminder of how the arrival of rail reshaped the city.

The viaducts appeal most to photographers, walkers and anyone curious about railway history. They sit in the Łyna river valley, so the best views come from the paths and green areas along the water rather than from street level. There is no ticket or building to enter; this is an outdoor landmark you simply walk up to. For current details on access and any works on the active rail line, check official local channels before you go.

The viaducts pair naturally with a walk along the Łyna, which threads through Olsztyn and links several green spaces. You can combine a stop here with the city's other riverside stretches or with the historic centre, using the valley paths to move between them on foot. See the Olsztyn guide for more on the wider city and what else sits within easy reach.