Bitterfelder Bogen, Steel footbridge in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany.
The Bitterfelder Bogen is a steel arch bridge spanning 81 meters and rising 28 meters above the Bitterfeld Berg landscape. The structure includes several observation platforms and viewing terraces positioned at different heights along its walkways.
Constructed between 2005 and 2006, this bridge marked the shift of Bitterfeld-Wolfen from a lignite mining area toward a recreational landscape. This transformation shaped the city's planning strategy for revitalizing the region after coal extraction ended.
A Frankfurt sculptor named Claus Bury designed this structure to echo the shape of a mining excavator bucket, connecting it to the region's industrial roots. This design choice turns the bridge into a visible symbol of Bitterfeld's working past.
The climb to the highest observation platforms takes place via a series of ramps covering about 540 meters of walking distance. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow enough time for the ascent, with rest spots available at several points.
The bridge structure became part of the city's visual identity and appears on Bitterfeld's official emblem. From multiple terrace points, visitors can gaze out over Goitzsche Lake, a body of water that formed in a former mining pit.
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