Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke)
Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke) features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Heidelberg. Give it roughly ~20 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type bridge
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Heidelberg Heidelberg guide
About Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke)
An 18th-century Neckar-sandstone arch bridge below the Old Town, the ninth on its site, known for its twin gate towers and the bronze Brueckenaffe, the good-luck bridge monkey.
The Old Bridge, officially the Karl-Theodor-Bruecke, is a Neckar-sandstone arch bridge running about 200 metres across the river below Heidelberg's Old Town. Built between 1786 and 1788 under Elector Karl Theodor, it is the ninth bridge on the site, its predecessors having been destroyed repeatedly by ice and floods. Twin medieval gate towers guard the Old-Town end, fitted with baroque helm roofs in 1714, and a monument to Karl Theodor stands on the bridge itself.
At the town end stands the bronze Brueckenaffe, or bridge monkey; a monkey figure has been associated with the crossing since at least the 15th century, and the present sculpture, holding a mirror, was made by Gernot Rumpf in 1979. Retreating troops blew up two pillars and adjoining arches on 29 March 1945, and the rebuilt bridge reopened in 1947. It is now a pedestrian crossing, freely accessible at all hours.
Did you know? This is the ninth bridge to stand here; earlier crossings were repeatedly wrecked by drifting ice and floods before the present sandstone bridge was built under Elector Karl Theodor in 1786 to 1788.
How long is a visit to Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke)?
Set aside roughly ~20 min for Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke). That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke) worth your time?
Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke) is among the 12 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Heidelberg, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Heidelberg
Day 2 of the Heidelberg in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Old Bridge (Alte Bruecke)
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