Mittlere Brücke, Stone arch bridge in Basel, Switzerland
Mittlere Brücke spans across the Rhine River connecting the two districts of Grossbasel and Kleinbasel using seven granite arches. A small chapel stands on its central pillar, adding to the distinctive appearance of this historic stone structure.
The original bridge was built around 1225 as the first crossing over the Rhine between Lake Constance and the North Sea. The current stone structure dates to 1905, when it replaced the earlier wooden version.
The bridge becomes a gathering point during Basel's Fasnacht carnival, where celebrants move back and forth between the two districts. Residents and visitors walk across it every day as a natural link between Grossbasel and Kleinbasel.
Private vehicle traffic is no longer permitted on the bridge, which instead offers wide pedestrian walkways for comfortable crossing. The route is accessible and provides a pleasant way to move between the two sides of the city.
Historical executions took place at the Käppelijoch chapel on the central pillar, where condemned individuals were forced into the Rhine. The river's current was sometimes strong enough to carry someone to safety downstream.
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