Bridge of Lies, Sibiu, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Bridge of Lies (Podul Minciunilor) is a small cast-iron footbridge in the old centre of Sibiu, Romania. Built in 1859, it is regarded as the first cast-iron bridge in the country, and it is best known for the legends that say it creaks when someone lies on it.

The story behind it

The bridge was put up in 1859 and replaced an older wooden crossing. Its iron structure was a novelty in Romania at the time, and it is often described as a bridge that does not rest on pillars. That unusual build is one reason locals gave it so much attention, and the name Bridge of Lies soon followed.

Several stories explain the name. The best known says the bridge will creak, and even threaten to collapse, if a person tells a lie while standing on it. Another tells of young lovers, and of military cadets, who made promises of everlasting love here and then broke them. These are local legends rather than documented history, but they are part of why people still stop in the middle and think twice about what they say.

What to look for

• The cast-iron construction itself, with its railings and metalwork, which shows how different this crossing is from the stone buildings around it.
• The view from the middle of the span, where you can look along the little valley and take in the old town on either side.
• The steep roofs of the nearby houses, with the small attic windows that Sibiu is famous for, which seem to watch you as you cross.
• The feel of the deck underfoot, since the legend says this is where the bridge would creak at a lie.

Tips for your visit

• Give it 10 to 15 minutes on its own. It is a short crossing, so the real pleasure is combining it with the streets around it.
• Go early in the morning or in the evening if you want to stand on the bridge without a crowd.
• It is a public footbridge in the open air, so you can walk across it without a ticket.
• It sits close to Piața Mică, the Little Square, and a short stroll from Piața Mare, so it fits easily into a walk around the historic centre.

See it on a quest

Medieval Old Town Sibiu: Hidden Stories of the 7 Towers reaches the bridge on foot as one stop on a longer route through the medieval centre. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Lost Map of Sibiu is a self-guided walk where the bridge is one of the places you pass between stops. You start whenever you like, hear the story of each spot as you reach it and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Sibiu suits those who like a darker mood with their sightseeing. You walk to the bridge as part of a route through the old town, the app explains each place when you get there, and you solve a puzzle on location. One ticket covers the whole group.