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Wallonie

Hammer Bridge (Hammerbrücke)

Wallonie

Hammer Bridge (Hammerbrücke)

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Hammer Bridge (Hammerbrücke)

Recommended by 64 hikers out of 65

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Location: Kelmis, Verviers, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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1. Hohnbach Valley – Bridge Over the Lontzenerbach loop from Kelmis - La Calamine

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2. Path to the Göhl and Hauset – Hohnbach Valley loop from Hauset

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3. Hammer Bridge (Hammerbrücke) – Path to the Göhl and Hauset loop from Hauset

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Tips

Erich + Margot Schins 👌🌲🍄🥾

October 8, 2023

First viaduct
Originally, the Göhltal near Hergenrath was bridged by a brick viaduct consisting of 17 two-story arches. Work on this viaduct, which was 220 meters long and 40 meters high, began in 1841.[1] By the time it was completed in 1843, over 8 million stones had been installed.[2] The construction costs amounted to 250,000 Prussian thalers.[1] With the opening of the railway line between Aachen and Liège on October 15, 1843, the viaduct also went into operation.
Destruction in World War II
During the Second World War, the viaduct was blown up by Belgian troops on the night of May 9th to 10th, 1940. A large part of the viaduct was destroyed. Eight Belgian pioneers were killed by the explosive charge, which was apparently too powerful.
In the following months the bridge was rebuilt, using numerous prisoners of war. The old structure was not restored; instead, a steel superstructure was built that was supported by a single central pillar.[2] When the German troops withdrew, this structure was also blown up on September 12, 1944.[3] Reconstruction began in 1945 and continued until 1948.[2] The bridge now consisted of two single-track, steel truss bridges, one with an overhead carriageway and the other with a carriageway below.
New building:
The HSL 3 was opened in 2009 for high-speed traffic between Aachen and Liège. This high-speed route branches off from the old route immediately after the Hammer Bridge and is used by ICE and Thalys. In order to ensure safe operation in the future, a new building was built between 1997 and 1999.
Further information: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerbr%C3%BCcke_(Hergenrath)#Erster_Viadukt
and: trois-frontieres.be/D/hammerbr.php

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Elevation 270 m

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Friday 31 October

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Location: Kelmis, Verviers, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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Hammer Bridge (Hammerbrücke)

1. Hohnbach Valley – Bridge Over the Lontzenerbach loop from Kelmis - La Calamine

2. Path to the Göhl and Hauset – Hohnbach Valley loop from Hauset

3. Hammer Bridge (Hammerbrücke) – Path to the Göhl and Hauset loop from Hauset

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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