Ziemestal Bridge

Simply amazing! A great destination for a railway embankment hike from Ziegenrück. 1 viaduct and 3 tunnels and then this bridge! The hike on the railway tracks with the dark tunnels is also great for the kids.

When the important railway line for the Reussian Oberland was to be built, the planners encountered the usual political difficulties. Resistance came mainly from the population, as they were supposed to cede parcels. After decades of delays, a route was finally chosen that was hardly a political resistance, but a high technical effort. Due to the numerous valley slopes in the region, many tunnels, bridges and viaducts were required. The biggest technical challenge was the Ziemestal Bridge. Because of the high transport costs to the Ziemestal, stone was out of the question as a building material. So they decided on steel, which was the most modern building material at the time.
In the autumn of 1893, the construction of the foundations and abutments began. The viaduct was finally completed a year later.

The bridge is absolutely worth seeing and is unique in Europe (curved steel construction). We climbed up there 30 years ago :D
The Wysbug (excavation site) nearby is also a must-visit if you're already there.