Elbebrücke Torgau, Road bridge in Torgau, Germany

The Elbebrücke Torgau is a road bridge in the German city of Torgau, Saxony, spanning the Elbe River and connecting the eastern and western parts of the city. It carries motor traffic and has sidewalks on the sides for pedestrians and cyclists.

A first fixed Elbe crossing is recorded as early as 1070; a wooden bridge was completed in 1440, and a 247 m timber structure with stone piers followed around 1513. The bridge was destroyed in 1637, rebuilt from 1661 to 1668, burned by Austrian troops in 1760 and restored the next year. On 25 April 1945 German units blew up the steel arch span, and US and Soviet soldiers met on the wreckage that same day. The present 509 m bridge was built from December 1991 and finished in summer 1993, about 100 m upstream of the old crossing, which was demolished by August 1994.

The bridge sits next to Hartenfels Castle, which is clearly visible from the roadway and the pedestrian walkway. From the crossing, you can look directly at the castle towers rising above the western bank of the Elbe.

The bridge is open at all hours and can be crossed on foot or by bike using the side walkways. If you plan to visit Hartenfels Castle, it is within easy walking distance from the western end of the bridge.

The 1945 handshake took place on the wrecked steel arch bridge, which German units had blown up that same day, 25 April. The replacement span stands about 100 m upstream on a new alignment; the old bridge was demolished by August 1994.