Stadtbrücke Pirna, Stone arch bridge in Pirna, Germany.
The Stadtbrücke Pirna is a 295.45-metre stone arch bridge over the Elbe, carrying the Staatsstraße 164 and the Kamenz–Pirna railway on the same deck. Its nine circular-segment arches, four of them over the river at the Pirna bank, rest on eight piers; the sandstone arches are 1.5 m thick at the springing and 1.25 m at the crown. The 1928 reinforced-concrete deck slab widened the roadway to 7 m and the footpaths to 3 m.
Construction of the bridge started in 1872 and was completed in 1875, with engineers building it using modern industrial methods of that era. The structure later underwent major renovation between 1992 and 1996, during which the historic sandstone arches were preserved.
The bridge's name, Stadtbrücke, was given by the city of Pirna to distinguish it from the Sachsenbrücke completed in 1999. The crossing links the Westvorstadt with Copitz, and its sandstone arches, visible from the riverbanks, remain a reference point for locals navigating between the two districts.
Walking to the bridge from Pirna's downtown is straightforward, with enough space on both sides for pedestrians despite the active traffic. Early mornings or afternoons offer better viewing conditions, as lighter traffic makes the crossing more pleasant and the river views clearer.
On 8 May 1945, bridge commander Rudolf Seidel had the detonation cables cut as Soviet troops approached, preventing the Wehrmacht from blowing up the already damaged bridge. A temporary bridge by the firm Kelle & Hildebrandt spanned the destroyed arch field from September 1945.
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