Saturday, December 18, 2010

Old stone bridge at Heidelberg

Photo was taken from Königstuhl hillside near the Heidelberg castle in October, rainy and cold day. The Heidelberg Castle  has only been partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 17th & 18th centuries. It is located 80 m up the northern part of the Königstuhl hillside, and thereby dominates the view of the old downtown. It is a great view of the "old" bridge and colorful old town from top of the hillside. However the real Old Stone Bridge at the German university city of Heidelberg was constructed in 1788, replacing a wooden bridge which was regularly destroyed by ice and floods.

The picture on the right which we can were visiting so-called Old Bridge, is actually relatively new: After retreating German soldiers destroyed it in the last days of World War II, it was rebuilt in 1947.
 
 Closer view of the bridge.

The Grand Entrance of the bridge
The old stone bridge was erected 1786-1788. A medieval bridge gate is on the side of the old town, and was originally part of the town wall. Baroque tower helmets were added as part of the erection of the stone bridge in 1788.

More bridges here:

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