List of medieval stone bridges in Germany

This list of medieval stone bridges in Germany includes bridges that were built during the Middle Ages (between c. 500 and 1500 AD) on the territory of the present Federal Republic of Germany.

Table of medieval stone bridges

Location State Name River crossed Built (or first mentioned) Remarks Photo
Bad Kreuznach Rhineland-Palatinate Old Nahe Bridge Nahe river and Mühlenteich canal Stone bridge c.1300, first mentioned in 1322. Houses first mentioned 1495, remaining houses built between 1582 and 1612.[1] The Alte Nahebrücke is one of the few remaining bridges in the world with buildings on it. It supports four buildings on its piers.[2] Alte Nahebrücke, Bad Kreuznach2
Bamberg Bavaria Upper Bridge Regnitz First mentioned 1387. The bridge links the Old Town Hall (Bamberg) [de], which is built on an artificial island in the river Regnitz, with both river banks.
Bingen am Rhein Rhineland-Palatinate Drususbrücke [de] Nahe 11th century / 1772 Destroyed by French troops in 1689 and rebuilt in 1772 on the old foundations. Blown up by German troops in March 1945 and repaired in 1952.[3]
Creuzburg Thuringia Werrabrücke (Creuzburg) [de] Werra 1223
Dresden Saxony on the site of the present-day Augustus Bridge Elbe 1173–1222 Stone bridge destroyed in 1342 by St. Mary Magdalene's flood. New bridge built in 1344. Augustus Bridge built in 1727–1731 . New bridge built in 1907.
Erfurt Thuringia Krämerbrücke (Merchants' Bridge) Breitstrom, a side arm of the Gera Original wooden bridge first mentioned 1117. Stone bridge built 1325. Houses completed 1486.[4] The bridge has been continuously inhabited for over 500 years, longer than any other bridge in Europe.[5]
Esslingen Baden-Württemberg Outer or Pliensau Bridge and Inner Bridge Neckar 1213 c. 1213 to 1259 built,[6] first mentioned in 1286
Frankfurt am Main Hesse Alte Brücke, Frankfurt Main Mentioned for the first time in 1276 as a stone bridge Destroyed at least 18 times and replaced; demolished in 1914
Hadamar Hesse Stone bridge (Hadamar) [de] Elbbach 1571 again built Parts of the bridge date to the 12th century, after a flood in 1555 the bridge was rebuilt by 1571.
Hadamar Hesse St. Wendelin's Bridge [de] Elbbach 12th century The bridge was modified several times
Hann. Münden Lower Saxony Old Werra Bridge [de] Werra First mentioned in 1329
Harburg Bavaria Old Bridge Wörnitz
Heidelberg Baden-Württemberg Old Bridge (Heidelberg) Neckar 1284 Today: new bridge from 1788
Hildesheim Lower Saxony Dammtor Bridge Innerste 1159 or soon thereafter Builder: Rainald von Dassel[7]
Jena Thuringia Camsdorf Bridge Saale 15th century Demolished in 1912, new bridge built 1913, blown up in 1945, rebuilt in 1946.
Jena-Burgau Thuringia Old Saale Bridge [de] Saale 1491–1544 On the site of a wooden bridge first mentioned in 1484, rebuilt in 1706, several modifications up to 1744, blown up in 1945, rebuilt again from 2001-2004.
Kitzingen Bavaria Alte Mainbrücke Kitzingen [de] Main 14th century
Koblenz Rhineland-Palatinate Balduin Bridge (Koblenz) [de] Mosel 1342 c. 1342/1343 On the site of a Roman Bridge (3rd to 5th centuries), several conversions to 1884, blown up in 1945, rebuilt in 1949, modified as part of the canalisation of the Moselle in 1964, restoration in 1975.
Limburg an der Lahn Hesse Alte Lahnbrücke (Limburg) [de] Lahn 1315–1354 First mention of a wooden bridge in 1248
Marburg Hesse Weidenhäuser Bridge [de] Lahn 1250 c. 1250
Ochsenfurt Bavaria Alte Mainbrücke Ochsenfurt [de] Main 1519 More recent historic research has revealed that it was on a par with the Old Main Bridge in Würzburg and the stone bridge in Regensburg.
Plauen Saxony Alte Elsterbrücke [de] White Elster First mentioned in 1244
Quedlinburg Saxony-Anhalt Steinbrücke (Quedlinburg) [de] Mühlgraben, a branch of the Bode 1229 first recorded mention as the lapideus pons Already built by 1310, 23 round arches over 103 metres[8]
Regensburg Bavaria Stone Bridge Danube Built 1135 to 1146 (probably), completed 1147 at the latest
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Bavaria Tauber Bridge Tauber 1330 c. 1330
Runkel Hesse Lahnbrücke (Runkel) [de] Lahn 1440–1448
Schwäbisch Hall Baden-Württemberg Henkers Bridge, also Kocher Bridge Kocher 1502 Built on the stone support of a wooden bridge of 1343
Streithausen-Marienstatt Abbey Rhineland-Palatinate Stone bridge Nister
Vacha Thuringia Werra Bridge (Vacha) [de], also Bridge of Unity (Brücke der Einheit) Werra 1346
Walting-Pfünz Bavaria Altmühlbrücke Pfünz [de] Altmühl First mentioned in 1486 Blown up in 1800, rebuilt again in the 19th century
Wetzlar Hesse Old Lahn Bridge, Wetzlar [de] Lahn 1250-1280 (suspected)
Weilburg Hesse Stone Bridge, Weilburg [de] Lahn 1359 Present bridge dates to 1769, the fourth stone arch bridge on this spot
Würzburg Bavaria Old Main Bridge, Würzburg [de] Main 1120 c. 1120 Destroyed in 1342 by St. Mary Magdalene's flood. New bridge from 1476

References

  1. ^ Zaschel, Anne (Universität Koblenz-Landau) (2014) Brückenhäuser auf der Alten Nahebrücke in Bad Kreuznach on www.kuladig.de. Retrieved 17 June 2018
  2. ^ Brückenhäuser, Alte Nahebrücke, Neustadt | Bad Kreuznach on www.romantic-germany.info (in English). Retrieved 14 June 2018
  3. ^ Bingen am Rhein town council website. The Drusus Bridge. Retrieved 11 November 2018
  4. ^ Raßloff, Steffen (1 June 2013) Krämerbrücke: Symbol der Handelsstadt in Thüringer Allgemeine. Retrieved 2 June 2018
  5. ^ Krämerbrücke on erfurt-tourismus.de Archived 2020-02-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 June 2018
  6. ^ "Beschreibung and Baugeschichte der Neckar Bridge bei Esslingen - Pliensau Bridge or Outer Bridge". Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  7. ^ Hans Goetting, The Bistümer, 1973, S. 391
  8. ^ Brinkmann, Adolf: Beschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau- and Kunstdenkmäler des kreises Stadt Quedlinburg. Magdeburg 1923, p. 159 f.

See also