Kettensteg

Where history hangs on chains

When the Kettensteg was opened in 1824, it was a sensation: the first freely suspended river bridge in Germany, held up by massive iron chains, without pillars in the centre. It was a real venture for the time - and a clear sign of the spirit of progress of early industrialisation. The construction was not only innovative, but also bold: a total length of 68 metres, held by three-metre-long chain links, attached to five-metre-high pylons. The vernacular gave the bridge its now familiar name.

The chain walkway became an early attraction - not least because of its swaying gait. But the wobbly pleasure was too risky in the long run. In the 20th century, the bridge was stabilised, in some cases provisionally supported - and thus lost its characteristic suspended state.

In the 1930s, it was even considered by some to be a ‘disruptive factor’ in the cityscape. Demolition had already been decided, but was prevented by the war. Instead, a temporary solution survived the decades - until 2009, when the bridge was finally closed for safety reasons.

Today, the Kettensteg is one of the city's most popular photo motifs. If you cross it, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the Pegnitz, the weir and the historic Maxbrücke bridge in the background. Especially on warm days, the banks around the footbridge, especially the newly designed Nägeleinsplatz , invite you to linger - urban, green, relaxed.

Just a few steps away: the picturesque Weißgerbergasse, Nuremberg's most beautiful half-timbered street. A walk across the Kettensteg is therefore not just a walk across a bridge - but a short journey through technology, city history and lifestyle.