Müngsten Bridge

Completed in 1897 to link Remscheid and Solingen across the Wupper valley, the Müngstener Brücke carries the railway a hundred and seven metres above the river, the highest railway bridge in Germany. The steel arch spans a hundred and seventy metres and was built by cantilevering out from both sides without falsework in the valley, the two halves meeting in the middle. Beneath it a park was laid out for the 2006 regional garden show, with a hand-operated cable ferry, the Schwebefähre, crossing the river. Trains still use the bridge, so it is seen and heard in operation from below.

History

The first plans for a bridge between Remscheid and Solingen go back to 1889, the Prussian Parliament approved the 5 million Marks needed in 1890, preparatory work began in 1893 and ground was broken on 26 February 1894, with the engineer Anton von Rieppel in charge. The bridge was finished in 1897 and inaugurated on 15 July 1897, attended by Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia rather than the emperor, who visited on 12 August 1899; first named the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Brücke after Wilhelm I, it was renamed after the nearby settlement of Müngsten when the monarchy ended (Wikipedia, Müngsten Bridge).

What to look for

• The steel arch - a 170-metre span 107 metres above the river.
• The cantilever build - a bridge built from both sides without falsework.
• The valley park - grounds laid out below for the 2006 garden show.
• The cable ferry - a hand-operated crossing of the Wupper.

When to go

April to October; the cable ferry runs seasonally and in fine weather. The park below is open year-round. Trains cross regularly through the day.

Before you go

The bridge cannot be walked; it carries rail traffic only. The ferry is seasonal and weather dependent. Access to the park involves a walk down.

Nearby

Schloss Burg lies east; Wuppertal is north.

Key facts