Krämerbrücke
The longest bridge in Europe lined on both sides with inhabited houses, so crossing it feels like a street.
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The Krämerbrücke crosses the Gera on six arches and has carried buildings since the wooden bridge burned and was rebuilt in stone in 1325; thirty-two houses now stand on it, on both sides, so the roadway is a narrow lane and the river is invisible from it. It is the longest continuously inhabited bridge in Europe. Originally there were sixty-two smaller houses; they were combined over time. Churches stood at each end, of which one survives as a tower. The houses hold workshops, galleries and small shops, and people live above them. A bridge festival is held each June.
What you actually see
- The inhabited span - thirty-two houses on both sides of the bridge.
- The hidden river - a crossing that reads as a street, not a bridge.
- The workshops - craft shops and galleries in the ground floors.
- The end tower - the survivor of the two bridge churches.
When to go
April to October; the bridge festival falls in June and fills the old town. Shops close Sundays. It is busiest at midday with tour groups.
Honest expectations
It is short and crossed in a few minutes. Shops are aimed at visitors. The best view of the bridge as a bridge is from the riverbank, not on it.
Nearby
Erfurt cathedral lies west; Weimar is east.
What to pack for Krämerbrücke
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
