Peace Bridge

The Peace Bridge is a curving footbridge and cycleway across the River Foyle, opened in 2011, connecting the old walled city on the west bank to the Ebrington Square development on the east bank. Designed by the Wilkinson Eyre architecture firm, it spans the river in a graceful asymmetric arc that has won multiple architectural awards.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the bridge has a genuine symbolic function: it physically links the historically nationalist west bank with the unionist east bank (the Waterside), creating a new shared public space. The junction point on the east bank, Ebrington Square — formerly a British Army barracks — has been developed as an arts and events venue. The bridge is lit at night and makes a particularly good photograph at dusk. Walk across it in both directions for the full effect.

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The bridge's S-curve design was intentional: the architect wanted walkers to face each other as they crossed, making the act of crossing a physical metaphor for meeting in the middle. When it opened in 2011, it was the first pedestrian bridge across the Foyle in 400 years — in a city divided along the river for most of those years, the symbolism was not subtle.

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