Carola Bridge, Steel railway bridge in Bad Schandau and Rathmannsdorf, Germany
The Carola Bridge is a steel railway bridge spanning the Elbe Valley near Bad Schandau and Rathmannsdorf, engineered to carry train traffic across a significant distance. It features an arch design that creates three openings to allow river traffic to pass beneath.
Construction of the bridge began in 1874 and finished in 1877, initially designed with separate sections for rail and road traffic. During the 1990s, major renovation work replaced the original iron framework with a new arch design.
The structure bears the name of Princess Carola of Saxony, reflecting 19th-century traditions of naming public works after members of the royal family. It remains part of the rail network that connects communities and allows travelers to experience the valley from a moving train.
The bridge is best viewed from a passing train or from the riverside below, where you can appreciate its full span and design. A walking path along the riverbank offers several vantage points to see the structure from different angles.
Sandstone pillars stand at each end of the structure, blending classical architectural details with industrial engineering and creating a visual contrast to the steel arch. These decorative elements mark the transition between traditional design and modern infrastructure building of the late 1800s.
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