Blue footbridge (former river barrier of the GDR border fortifications)

The "Blue Bridge" is a former border barrier that was used as a river dam on the Werra River between Treffurt and Heldra.An information panel in front of the bridge provides insightful explanations of the significance of this river dam.Today, this river dam is embedded in Premium Hiking Trail 6 and is used as a bridge over the Werra.

The "Blue" Bridge over the Werra River between Heldra in the Werra-Meißner district of northern Hesse and Treffurt in the Wartburg district of western Thuringia.One of the three "river barriers" of the GDR border fortifications in the Heldrazipfel region became a bridge for hikers.River barriers were built as part of the GDR barrier system and were intended to prevent escape by water, for example, on an air mattress. They consisted of a bridge from which pivoting barriers extended to the water. These were guarded by former GDR border troops. After the border was opened, the barriers and the gratings for access to the bridge were removed. The same was true of the observation tower on the eastern bank of the Werra.

Difficult if you are afraid of heights, otherwise certainly attractive and steeped in history