Schönausteg, Chain bridge in Mattenhof-Weissenbühl, Switzerland.

The Schönausteg is a small iron chain footbridge over the Aare in Bern, with a span of about 55 m. It links the Lindenau settlement with the lower Kirchenfeld. Motor vehicles and bicycles are not allowed to cross it. The deck sits only 2 m above the water, and in summer bathers use it to jump into the river between the Marzili outdoor pool and the Eichholz recreation area.

The Schönausteg was built in 1906 as a chain bridge over the Aare, replacing the Dählhölzli ferry introduced in 1868 that had carried people between the banks. The sources do not name its engineer. Over the winter of 2024/25 the span was dismantled on 1 November 2024, with a temporary footbridge set up about 250 m downstream, and remounted on 14 April 2025.

In summer the Schönausteg, lying between the Marzili open-air pool and the Eichholz recreation area, is a popular spot for bathers. Because the walkway sits only about 2 m above the water, swimmers often use it to jump into the Aare. Crossing with bicycles and motor vehicles is prohibited.

Crossing with motor vehicles and bicycles is prohibited; the bridge is for pedestrians only. It lies between the Marzili open-air pool and the Eichholz recreation area, and in summer bathers use it to jump into the Aare, only about 2 m below. During the 2024/25 renovation a temporary footbridge stood about 250 m downstream.

The bridge features an unusual technical detail: vibrations from joggers and runners can resonate with its natural frequency, a problem solved through specialized dampers. This engineering solution shows how builders had to address an unexpected everyday phenomenon.