Ferdinand-Leitner-Steg, Fußgängerbrücke in Stuttgart
The Ferdinand-Leitner-Steg is a pedestrian bridge in Stuttgart's center that crosses busy Schillerstrasse and links the castle garden with the downtown area. This roughly 100-meter-long and 5.5-meter-wide structure features a flat steel box suspended by angled cables from a 23-meter-high octagonal stone pylon.
Built in 1961 as one of the first cable-stayed bridges using parallel wire cables, it was renamed in 1997 to honor conductor Ferdinand Leitner. A major restoration in 2008 replaced aging neon lights with modern LED systems and reinforced structural safety.
The bridge is named after Ferdinand Leitner, a Stuttgart-born conductor and music director who shaped the city's opera and orchestra scene. This naming reflects the city's recognition of his cultural contributions.
Access is via wide concrete stairs from street level, with modern LED lighting along the railings for safe nighttime use. The flat profile and narrow width encourage slow, careful crossing, especially when foot traffic is heavy.
Designed by the renowned engineering firm Leonhardt, Andrä and Partner, it stands as a pioneering example of cable-stayed bridge technology using parallel wire cables. The innovative design solutions from the 1960s continue to be studied by engineers today.
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