Covered Bridges in Strasbourg currently have no roof, but once in each of the four bridges were not only the roof but also loopholes. Built in the first half of the XIII century, the bridge served as defensive structures and municipal protected shipping channels of the River Ill. Bridges were thrown through the channels that led to the quarter of "Petite France" and to the areas where the mills were located - Shpitsmyule, Dittsenmyule and Tsornmyule.

The bridges were originally built of wood, but always rebuilt, and the second half of the XIX century formed their final appearance - have survived the construction, already stacked sandstone. In the XVII century the famous military engineer Sebastian de Vauban built around Strasbourg new belt of town fortifications (of which survived only Vauban dam), so bridges partly lost its defensive function, and by the end of the XVIII century have lost some of their "ammunition" such as roofs.

The ensemble of Strasbourg covered bridges are also included four towers grim-looking and with no less gloomy "biographies." Initially there were five towers, but one of them, the tower chains, was destroyed in 1869 during a fire. The preserved fortress also have their names - the French, the tower executioner Heinrich and Hans von Altheim. In these towers for many years housed the prison, including one female. The worst place was a prison in the tower of the Executioner, where prisoners were subjected to severe torture with the use of special tools for the most sophisticated tortures practiced by the inquisitors. The tower was used as a prison until 1823, and the Tower Executioner lasts ten years longer. Casemates of the prison, despite their dark past, are very popular among tourists.

Best review on covered bridges and towers Vauban dam is opened, which is now just an observation deck. On the bridge itself is very convenient to admire the views of Strasbourg. Ensemble covered bridges and towers since 1988, protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.