Originally, the Old Bridge was a wooden structure. It wasn’t until the early 15th century that pictorial representations began to show the structure in stone. The current Old Bridge was inaugurated after reconstruction from 1912 to 1926 by the then Lord Mayor, Ludwig Landmann. Shortly before the end of the Second World War, the German Wehrmacht detonated two of its eight arches. After a provisional reconstruction, the bridge was renovated in 1965. In 2013, a renovation was carried out, giving the Old Bridge a new appearance. Since October 2016, the statue of Charlemagne has stood again on the bridge. This is an exact replica of the statue from 1843, which stood on the Old Bridge until 1914 and will have a permanent place in the new building of the Historical Museum.
Cross the Main River on the Alte Brücke and climb up the stairs or take the elevator to the bridge’s pedestrian path. From here, you can admire the skyline of Frankfurt’s financial district and capture beautiful views of the riverbanks. The Old Bridge was already mentioned in a document in 1222, making it the oldest bridge over the Main River in Frankfurt. For the city’s development, it represents a significant milestone. For centuries, the Old Bridge was the sole connection between the two banks of Frankfurt and one of the most important routes beyond the city’s borders.
Own or work here?