Road Cycling Highlight
Recommended by 106 out of 108 road cyclists
Location: Vacha, Wartburgkreis, Thuringia, Germany
5.0
(2)
11
01:12
26.0km
250m
5.0
(2)
58
02:43
65.3km
300m
5.0
(1)
13
05:01
120km
710m
The Werra Bridge Vacha, also known as the Bridge of Unity since 1990, is a 225-meter-long stone arch bridge from the Middle Ages that connects Vacha in Thuringia with Philippsthal in Hesse and spans the Werra. At the time of the division of Germany, the bridge was located directly on the inner-German border, which made it a symbol of the reunification of Germany after 1990.
The 225-meter-long bridge is made of natural stone masonry and has eleven arches in the foreland area and three arches over the Werra. The clear widths are around 5 m in the foreland area and a maximum of 9.6 m in the river area, with pillar axis distances of no more than 14 m. The width between the parapets is 5.5 m.
Source: WikipediaAt the beginning of the 20th century, the structure was part of Reichsstrasse 84. In the spring of 1945, during the Second World War, two arches were blown up and rebuilt in 1950/1951 with reinforced concrete and a sandstone wall cladding.
Today the structure is used as a footbridge and cycle path.
Since 2003, the ecumenical pilgrimage route Görlitz-Vacha has led over the Werra bridge. This is where the Rhönklub-Jakobsweg through the Rhön towards Fulda connects.
Source: ihrueberflieger.de
June 16, 2020
For 40 years, it was impossible to cross this bridge because the inner-German border (which is also the EU's external border) prevented people from crossing the river.
October 4, 2023
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Location: Vacha, Wartburgkreis, Thuringia, Germany
5.0
(2)
11
01:12
26.0km
250m
5.0
(2)
58
02:43
65.3km
300m
5.0
(1)
13
05:01
120km
710m