Old Town Bridge, Trondheim, Norway

In Today's Daily Jigsaw Puzzle, we see the Old Town Bridge (Gamle Bybro) in Trondheim, Norway - a beloved historical landmark from 1681 ♥

It was constructed as part of a significant rebuilding effort after the Great Fire devastated much of the city that same year. The reconstruction was led by General Johan Caspar von Cicignon, who introduced a Baroque-inspired city plan with wider streets and improved fire safety. The bridge was a key element in this redesign, linking the fortified city center to the Bakklandet neighborhood across the Nidelva River.

The original bridge included a wooden drawbridge, designed to control access and strengthen the city's defenses - a necessary feature, as Trondheim held considerable strategic and military importance at the time.

Trondheim was founded in 997 by Viking king Olav Tryggvason and was originally known as Nidaros. It served as Norway's most important city during the early medieval period and functioned as a de facto capital. For centuries, it was the country's political and religious heart. In the Middle Ages, it became the seat of the Archbishop of Nidaros, and the nearby Nidaros Cathedral - built over the burial site of Saint Olav - became a major pilgrimage destination.

The Old Town Bridge was rebuilt in 1861, when city engineer Carl Adolf Dahl added the now-iconic red timber archways. Known locally as Lykkens portal ("Gate of Happiness"), the bridge remains a cherished symbol of Trondheim's history, resilience, and architectural charm ♥