Bettingbergtunnel, Railway tunnel and architectural heritage monument near Kreuzwertheim, Germany
The Bettingbergtunnel is a 730 meter long railway tunnel that runs through the terrain between Kreuzwertheim and Trennfeld, featuring stone lion head decorations at both portals. The structure was built in stone and displays these characteristic sculptures at each entrance.
Construction took place between 1879 and 1881 as part of the Lohr-Wertheim railway line, improving transport connections in the region. When the railway closed in 1976, the tunnel lost its original function but remained standing as a historical structure.
The tunnel stands as a protected heritage monument and attracts attention from visitors because of its stone lion head decorations framing both entrances. These sculptures demonstrate the craftsmanship that builders invested in making functional structures also visually distinctive.
The tunnel is not open to public access because bats use it as a winter habitat and are protected by law. Visitors can view the structure from the outside, particularly the stone lion head decorations at both entrances, which are clearly visible.
During the 1980s, Mercedes-Benz used the decommissioned structure as a testing facility for track-guided buses before operations ended following a fire incident. This unexpected industrial use turned the historical tunnel into an experimental vehicle development center.
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