Holzbrücke Bad Säckingen

Holzbrücke Bad Säckingen is a covered wooden footbridge that spans 206.5 meters across the Rhine River between Germany and Switzerland. The structure uses oak and spruce timber with a protective roof and features solid wooden supports typical of medieval bridge-building techniques.

The first written record of the bridge dates to 1272, and it has survived countless floods and military destruction since then. Major reconstruction work took place between 1700 and 1830 to repair damage and strengthen the timber structure.

The bridge contains small chapels and colorful statues of Saint Francis Xavier and Saint John Nepomuk carved into its structure. These religious figures reveal how builders mixed faith with their craftsmanship during the medieval period.

The bridge is open daily for pedestrians and cyclists crossing between Germany and Switzerland at the Rhine border. Plan to walk slowly through the covered passage and note that border regulations may apply when crossing between countries.

Explosives were stored inside the bridge pillars during the Cold War as a precautionary measure, remaining hidden until removal and deactivation during restoration work in 2014. This secret military preparation reveals how the border crossing was treated as a strategic location during that tense period.

Location: Stein

Location: Bad Säckingen

Official opening: 1272

Length: 206.5 m

Longest Span: 31.1 m

Part of: Germany–Switzerland border, list of cultural properties in Stein AG

GPS coordinates: 47.55137,7.95169

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:26