This new tourist attraction will make you dizzy
A newly opened tourist attraction makes you feel like you’re floating on air, all while catching panoramic views of mountains and a valley that disappears beneath you.
The Vøringsfossen waterfall offers views of the landscape near Eifjord in Hardanger, western Norway.
The project, designed by architect Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk, has been over a decade in the making and is now ready for visitors brave enough to traverse the 99 steps that connect the two sides of the Måbødalen valley.
The bridge is part of a series of developments in the area that aim to make the spot even more attractive to visitors, including new viewpoint platforms and footpaths.
“The bridge is, of course, the heart of the project that connects two sides of the river and the waterfall together,” Hølmebakk told CNN Travel.
The bridge has been designed to fuse the natural and man-made seamlessly - with Hølmebakk and his team closely studying the local landscape and scanning the terrain with digital equipment to ensure they didn’t damage the environment.
Though those with a fear of heights may want to steer clear, the bridge will become another reason to visit one of Norway’s top destinations.
The floating-on-air design is inspired by Norwegian folklore and its Romantic tradition, Hølmebakk said.
But turning this concept into reality wasn’t a small task, as the team had to combine conventional building methods with helicopters and mountaineers.
Construction began back in 2015, but Vøringsfossen’s mountainous location meant that work could only be done during the short summer season.
The bridge is suitable for both older people and children, but won’t be wheelchair-friendly until the accessible footpath currently in development is completed.
By 2022, a cafe will also be on site, giving visitors a perfect spot to catch their breath after walking on the bridge.
Hølmebakk saw the bridge at each stage of construction but said he still marvelled the first time he saw it finished and was able to step onto the walkway.
He said the scale is pretty incredible and crossing it was “fantastic”.
Even so, Hølmebakk stresses the bridge will always come second to the landscape.
“The architecture is not the main part, but the beautiful nature, and the waterfall.”