Rheinbrücke Rheinau–Altenburg, Wooden road bridge in Zürich, Switzerland
The Rheinbrücke Rheinau-Altenburg is a wooden road bridge that crosses the Rhine River, measuring 80 meters in length and 4.3 meters wide. It connects two municipalities on either side of a river that flows through a quiet, rural region.
The first bridge at this location was built in 1324 to help Rheinau Monastery reach its lands on the opposite bank. This original crossing served for centuries as the main link between territories separated by the river.
The sculpture of Saint John Nepomuk on the Swiss side reflects how this bridge was once seen as a place deserving divine protection. This religious marker shows the spiritual meaning rivers held for communities on both banks.
The bridge can support a maximum weight of 8 tons and uses a three-field truss system to distribute loads safely. Heavy vehicles cannot use this route, so plan your crossing accordingly if you are traveling by car.
This crossing combines covered wooden architecture with stone supports on both ends, representing one of the few remaining pile bridge designs left in Switzerland. The mix of wood and masonry shows how traditional builders created structures meant to last for generations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
