Popular with many Munich residents: The Reichenbach Bridge
Reichenbach Bridge: Tips and historical facts about the meeting place on the Isar River
The Reichenbach Bridge (Reichenbachbrücke) is a popular meeting point for Munich residents right at the Isar river. Learn all about the 19th century bridge here.
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Highlights around the bridge: Gärtnerplatz, kiosk and Isar river
The bridge is very popular with pedestrians, joggers and cyclists - especially because of the great view: From the top you can take a snapshot of the church St. Maximilian.
At the Reichenbachkiosk, which is located on the western end of the bridge, you can get chilled drinks and snacks 23 hours a day.
Due to its location and the connection between Glockenbachviertel and Au, Reichenbachbrücke is a popular meeting place for Munich residents who want to enjoy their lunch break or after-work beer together. From here, it is easy to set off for Gärtnerplatz, visit the Auer Dulten or start a walk along the Isarauen. By the way, there are also great playgrounds for little Munich residents on the right side of the Isar.
Resilience test during the great flood of 1899
Almost 60 years after it was built, the Reichenbach Bridge had to pass a major test of endurance: It was one of the few Munich bridges to survive the record flood of 1899, but it was subsequently reinforced, as were many other surviving bridges.
Many of Munich's bridges have resembled each other since this event, as a company sold bridge parts to the city in a package. Almost identical in construction to the Reichenbach Bridge, for example, is the Wittelsbacher Bridge. Even though the danger of flooding has greatly decreased since the renaturation of the Isar, many Munich residents come to the bridge when the water level is high to get an idea of the current situation.
History of the bridge: moved 25 meters in 1902
When the decision was made in 1902 to replace the wooden Reichenbach Bridge with a concrete bridge due to the ever-increasing volume of traffic, the wooden bridge was temporarily moved so that the flow of traffic could be maintained during the new construction.
It was moved 25 meters to the south within a few hours on June 3, 1902. Eleven winches and thick steel cables were used to lift the original wooden bridge and move it southward on an iron rail, centimeter by centimeter on the slightly sloping terrain.
A new concrete structure was built on its old site, designed by the architect Friedrich von Thiersch. One year later, on July 17, 1903, the new bridge was opened to traffic.
