«Legend has it: they drank vodka,
«There was more than one toast
And they decided to build a pedestrian bridge
And they decided to build a pedestrian bridge.
A delicate, light, in the form of an arch.
And with a view of the sea,
♪ To carry beautiful gifts ♪
«
«
«A tit on a holiday to the mother-in-law’s house.
People’s Odessa poems.
The history of the most famous bridge of Odessa is covered with speculations and rumors. How the name of this landmark appeared, no one knows for sure. Odessians have several opinions about both the name and the history of the appearance of this bridge.
According to one of the simplest versions, Teshchin Bridge in Odessa was decided to build to the 50th anniversary of the USSR. Adherents of this version used to call the bridge no other than Komsomolsky. The bridge was called Mother-in-law Bridge after young people tortured by their mothers-in-law began to be thrown off the bridge.
However, there is a more cheerful version. The chairman of the City Party Committee, Mikhail Sinitsa, who lived on Primorsky Boulevard, loved his mother-in-law’s pancakes and other tasty delicacies so much that he used to go to her several times a day. But the anticipation and pleasure of tasty mother-in-law’s dishes Sinitsa always spoiled the long road — then to get from Primorsky Boulevard to Gogol Street, where lived the same mother-in-law, could only bypass through Sabaneyev Bridge. So Sinitsa, a lover of mother-in-law’s dishes, decided to build a direct bridge from Primorsky Boulevard to Zhvanetsky Boulevard (formerly Komsomolsky Boulevard).
There are other versions, for example, that the long and narrow bridge, swaying in the strong wind, reminded many Odessians of the mother-in-law’s tongue, so they nicknamed the bridge Teshchin.
Anyway, the bridge is one of the main sights of the city today. This bridge, built in 1968-1969 under the project of engineer Kirienko and architect Vladimirskaya, is rightfully considered to be one of the longest in Odessa. At first it was planned that the bridge would be built in a retro style to harmonize with the surrounding buildings, but for unknown reasons it was eventually decided not to make the decor, and the reinforced concrete bridge was built in the constructivist style.
The Teshchin Bridge is located in a picturesque architectural area above the Military Descent. From one edge stretching parallel to the sea, the bridge is adjacent to Primorskij boulevard, while its other edge rests in a corner of old Odessa. One edge of the bridge is the magnificent Vorontsov Palace and the most beautiful street of the city, the other edge is the Kissing Bridge and the ancient well.
Walking along Teschino Bridge you can get a better feel of Odessa itself. The jokes and folk tales associated with its history remind you of the city’s character, the architectural landscapes and views of beautiful old houses opening from the bridge are a living illustration of Odessa’s history, the sea shimmering in the sunlight tells the fate of the city — the largest seaport, and Vorontsovsky Palace reminds you of the famous people who «raised» the city and made it what it has become.
Odessa residents believe that a wish made under the Teschina Bridge will definitely come true, newlyweds visit this bridge and hang locks on it to make it bring them good luck in their family life. And for the guests of the city to walk along this landmark of Odessa will be interesting because it is one of the most cozy and beautiful corners of the city, clearly illustrating its history and mood. If several people jump in the center of the bridge, it will start to vibrate and spring to the beat. Students of the Physics Department of Odessa University even have a funny tradition: on the day of the faculty to jump on the Teschin Bridge.