In 2023, the wooden Red Bridge over the Úpa River in the picturesque location of Babiččino údolí near Ratibořice in the Náchod region was restored. This bridge under heritage protection built in 1880, which is owned by the state enterprise Lesy České republiky, was narrowed in mid 2021 due to the deteriorating condition of the structure to allow passage only the middle part. This restriction followed a six-month closure of the bridge due to a decaying railing.
The bridge has been completely reconstructed. Consultations with the National Heritage Institute in Josefov were necessary, whose key requirement was to preserve the original historical appearance of the bridge using solid wood.
The process of restoring the bridge began with the selection and harvesting of 31 larches and several oaks in the forests surrounding Babiččino údolí. The aim was to ensure that the new bridge was rebuilt with the same material as the original. Fourteen- to fifteen-meter-long beams were made from the harvested timber, while shorter four-meter-long pieces were used for the railings and smaller structural elements. The high-pressure impregnation of larch wood was provided by Impregnace Soběslav s.r.o. in cooperation with the construction company ŠTĚPÁNEK, spol. s r.o. with Bochemit Forte Profi, which guaranteed the long-term preservation of the quality of the material. The impregnation was carried out on the treated wood according to the blueprints of the original bridge.
The resulting renovation not only restored the historical heritage, but also improved safety and accessibility for visitors to this popular tourist destination. The bridge is located near the ruins of Rýzmburk Castle. The area of the bridge is very popular among tourists, as marked hiking trails, a nature trail and a cycle path lead over the bridge. The crossing over the Úpa River here provides non-motorized visitors with access to the magical Babiččino údolí, while motor vehicles are strictly forbidden to enter the bridge. The bridge, which serves as an important element of the area's tourist infrastructure, was reopened to the public in January 2024.
