Floating bridge in Koblenz

The floating bridge in Koblenz is a suspended structure that carries pedestrians and vehicles across the Rhine using cables anchored to a tall supporting tower. The cables allow the deck to move up and down with water level changes, maintaining traffic flow during flooding.

The structure was built in 1819 to improve transportation links and support trade across the Rhine. After more than a century of use, it was destroyed during World War II and later reconstructed.

The bridge shapes Koblenz's daily life, serving as an ordinary crossing point that locals rely on to move between neighborhoods. It demonstrates how the city has grown around the river as a central connector.

The bridge is free to cross and open around the clock for both pedestrians and vehicles without tolls. Visitors should know that extreme flooding may cause temporary closures for safety reasons.

The suspended cable system is a rare engineering solution where all traffic is supported by steel cables hanging from a tall pylon above the deck. When first built, this design was cutting-edge technology rarely seen elsewhere.