Bridge Built by Eiffel Tower Architect for the Giza Zoo to be Restored

Al Sayed el-Quseir, the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, announced a partnership between Egypt and France to restore the Eiffel Bridge, a suspension bridge in the Giza Zoo that had been closed since the 1990s. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, the same architect behind the Eiffel Tower (yes, the glittering metal tower in Paris, the one in all the movies, THAT one), the bridge was designed from 1875 to 1879, over ten years before the Paris tower was established. This French gem is a piece of architectural history in the heart of Giza that had  been lying dormant and forgotten for around 30 years.

The bridge hangs between two faux mountains that were created specifically for the project, allowing the bridge to serve as the highest peak in the zoo. The end result is a vantage point that creates a panoramic view of the whole area so visitors can peek down at the rare tree and animal species.

The Giza Zoo, which opened its doors in 1891, was the first zoo in Africa and continues to be the largest in the Middle East with a total area of around 80 acres, housing around 4,800 animal and bird species.