Løkke bro

Løkke bro (Løkke Bridge) is the first cast iron bridge in Norway, set over the Sandvikselva river in Sandvika, in the municipality of Bærum. It dates from 1829 and today serves as a footbridge in a green part of town. It is a small landmark, but a significant one for anyone interested in engineering history or in the Impressionist painters.

What is Løkke bro?

The bridge was assembled from cast iron elements, which was a novelty in Norway in the 1820s. This type of construction allowed a permanent crossing that was more durable than the timber bridges that had previously dominated the area. For that reason it is regarded as a milestone in Norwegian bridge building and is described as the country's first cast iron bridge. Local sources differ on where the iron was cast, so there is no single settled account of that detail.

Why visit?

The bridge also has an artistic side. In 1895, during a two-month trip to Norway, Claude Monet visited Sandvika. He had come to see his stepson Jacques Hoschedé, who lived in Oslo. The painter depicted the bridge in a canvas that is now held by the Art Institute of Chicago. A walk across it lets you stand where one of the best-known Impressionists found a subject.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The bridge is in Sandvika, in Bærum, west of Oslo. In 1977 the original road bridge was replaced by a modern structure, and the old one was moved roughly 100 metres upstream. Road traffic now crosses on the new bridge along Elias Smiths vei. The historic bridge links Løkkeparken with Sandvika videregående skole and is used by pedestrians. Its coordinates are approximately 59.893 N, 10.519 E.

Frequently asked questions

Is Løkke bro really Norway's first cast iron bridge? Yes, that is how it is described in local history sources and reference works.

What year is the bridge from? 1829.

Can you walk across it? Yes. Since it was moved in 1977 it has served as a pedestrian bridge.

Did Monet paint this bridge? Yes, in 1895 during his stay in Sandvika. The painting is in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Is the bridge still at its original site? No. It was shifted about 100 metres upstream, and a new road bridge now carries traffic at the old crossing.

In short

Løkke bro brings the history of technology and the history of art together in one place. It is compact, easy to reach and fits well into a stroll through the park and along the river in Sandvika. For visitors to the Oslo area it makes a short but rewarding stop.