Oberbaum Bridge

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  Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin

• "Open Air Gallery" on the Oberbaumbrücke in Berlin.

• Fireworks over the Oberbaum Bridge during the New Year's Eve celebrations.

The eye-catching Oberbaumbrücke (Oberbaum Bridge) connects the districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg and is considered the most beautiful bridge in Berlin.

The Oberbaumbrücke is considered the most beautiful bridge in Berlin. And that's saying something - there are almost 1000 bridges from different eras in the capital. The double-deck bridge is the landmark of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district. It has connected the two districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg since 1896. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, it also became a symbol of reunification of East and West.

History of the Oberbaum Bridge

Before the Oberbaum Bridge was given its current stone appearance, there was a wooden bridge over the Spree river. The Oberbaum Bridge owes its name to this wooden bridge: During the day, tolls were levied on the bridge, at night the Spree crossing was closed with a nailed tree trunk, the Oberbaum. After the Siemens & Halske company was commissioned to plan a stone bridge on the same site, it was completed in 1896.

Destruction during the Second World War

Shortly before the end of the Second World War, the Oberbaum Bridge was badly damaged by German troops. They blew up most of the middle arch of the bridge and severely damaged the two towers. However, the bridge itself did not collapse. After the end of the war, the bridge was quickly repaired. When the Berlin Wall was built, the Oberbaum Bridge was closed to car and rail traffic. Between 1961 and 1989, the bridge was a border crossing that could only be used by pedestrians.

Architecture of the Oberbaum Bridge

When looking at the red-brick Oberbaum Bridge, the two towers in the middle arch of the bridge catch the eye. They are intended to remind us of the bridge's former function as a customs station and are partially different. While one tower has an octagonal ground plan on the upper floor, the other tower is round. The square tower bears the Berlin bear on top, the round one the Brandenburg eagle. In addition to road traffic, the subway also runs over the Oberbaum Bridge. Pedestrians can walk under the subway viaduct of Berlin's oldest subway line across the Spree bridge. The path leads through a cloister reminiscent of old monasteries.

Area around the bridge

The Oberbaum Bridge is not only used to cross the Spree. It is also a cultural and film location and, not least, a popular meeting place to watch the sunset. The imposing statue of the Molecule Man stands in the water of the Spree in the immediate vicinity and the East Side Gallery is not far away either. The best way to experience the beauty of the bridge is from the water on a boat tour on the Spree.

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