Cathedral Bridge, Steel truss bridge in Cologne, Germany
Cathedral Bridge was a steel lattice structure spanning the Rhine River with a framework of wrought iron forming distinctive diagonal patterns. The bridge carried two railway tracks and a single road lane across its metal framework.
Construction started in 1855 under Frederick William IV, and the bridge opened in 1859 to connect Cologne with the Deutz district. Growing traffic from a newly built central station eventually pushed the structure beyond its capacity by the early 1900s.
The bridge earned its name from local residents who noticed its cage-like structure with gates at both ends, which gave it a distinctive appearance. This local naming reflects how the public perceived and talked about the structure in their daily lives.
The bridge is best viewed from either riverbank, where you can see the full lattice structure and understand its overall design clearly. Morning light or sunny afternoons provide the best views for photographing the metal framework and its details.
Engineer Hermann Lohse created an intricate system of diagonal patterns within the iron framework that gave the bridge its distinctive visual character. This technical solution served both structural purposes and created the memorable lattice appearance that made it recognizable.
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