Flottbro

The name 'floating bridge' comes from the fact that bridges float on water, on 'rafts'. They rise and fall with the water level. In the past, this was a common way of building bridges over the Dalälven. This floating bridge in Kyrkbyn is open to car traffic.

Gagnef Municipality is crossed by two rivers, Österdalälven and Västerdalälven, and this has of course characterized the village in a special way. The water provided opportunities for fishing and communications, and all the major villages in the municipality are located along the rivers. The rivers also posed an obstacle as mobility between people increased and they needed to be able to transport themselves, their animals and goods across the water.

The first 'fixed' connections across the rivers were ferries, initially rowed and later pulled by ropes. The first written mention of a ferry is in a tax list from 1561. In the 17th century, many ferries were replaced by floating bridges. It is difficult to know for sure when the first one was built, as it is referred to as a ferry rather than a ferry bridge or long bridge. Originally, there were several ferries that were linked together until there was a connection across the entire river.

When you walked or drove a horse and carriage across a bridge, the "rafts" sank a little so you could get your feet wet. In 1659, for the first time, there was a clear mention of a floating bridge in Djurås. Of course, raft bridges were not only found in Gagnef. In "Dagbok öfwer en resa genom Dalarna år 1757" by Abraham Hulphers it is said that there were 11 floating bridges over the Dalälven.