Alte Elsterbrücke, Stone arch bridge in Plauen, Germany.
The Alte Elsterbrücke spans the White Elster River using six arches built from granite blocks. The structure measures approximately 75 meters in length and 7 meters in width, connecting the neighborhoods on both sides of the river.
The structure was first documented in 1244 and stands as one of the oldest stone arch bridges in Saxony. It ranks among the few medieval bridge constructions from this region that have survived to the present day.
The bridge marks where two ancient trade routes between Thuringia and Bohemia met and once formed part of Plauen's original city fortifications. Today pedestrians and cyclists cross this historic location daily on their journey over the river.
The bridge has been reserved exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists since 1984, offering a direct crossing over the river. Access is straightforward and the route passes through central Plauen.
A replica of a historical post milestone stands at the bridge entrance, honoring Adam Friedrich Zürner who mapped Saxony starting in 1713 under Augustus the Strong. This stone marks the region's connection to early modern surveying and mapmaking.
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