Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge carries pedestrians across the Pegnitz with two suspended iron sections that span the water on either side of a central support. The structure features a wooden walking surface supported by wrought iron chains and eyebars beneath.

Completed in 1824, this structure was the first iron chain suspension bridge built in Europe and demonstrated a new engineering approach. The design influenced how rivers in populated areas could be crossed using industrial methods.

The bridge reflects engineering methods from the early 1800s and serves as a daily passage connecting two parts of the city. Visitors crossing it experience how the Pegnitz River has been integrated into the urban landscape for generations.

The bridge sits between the medieval fortifications near the river center and is easy to locate while walking through the old town area. Access is straightforward from either riverbank, and the best views come from standing on the structure itself or from nearby paths along the water.

When restored in 2010, workers secretly reinforced the wooden deck by adding a concealed steel support structure beneath it. This hidden modernization kept the historic look intact while making the bridge safer for daily foot traffic.