Göltzsch Viaduct, Railway viaduct in Reichenbach im Vogtland, Germany.
The Göltzsch Viaduct is a brick railway bridge spanning 578 meters across the valley with 98 arches stacked in four levels and reaching 78 meters in height. The structure crosses the Göltzsch River valley on a single continuous line with its massive red-brown brick pillars supporting the railway track above.
Construction started in 1846 under architect Johann Andreas Schubert's plans and finished in 1851, requiring millions of bricks from regional suppliers across the region. The bridge was built to serve the growing railway connection between Leipzig and Hof.
The structure shows the craftsmanship of bricklayers and stone masons whose work remains visible in every section. Walking beneath its arches, visitors can sense how this bridge connected distant regions and became central to local identity.
Visitors can view the viaduct from several viewpoints located in the valley below, which offer free access and clear sightlines. The best vantage point is often from ground level, where you can see the full scale and depth of the structure.
When finished, this was the largest brick bridge in the world and held that record for a long time. Few visitors realize that entirely traditional brick masonry made such a grand structure possible.
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