Augustusbrücke (Augustus Bridge), Dresden

Augustus Bridge is one of Dresden’s most historic crossings of the River Elbe, connecting the Old Town on the left bank with Dresden’s New Town on the right. A wooden bridge was recorded here as early as 1275, followed by a stone bridge with 25 pillars in 1287. For centuries, it formed an important trade route, while tolls collected at the nearby customs house provided a major source of revenue for the Saxon Wettin rulers.

The bridge was named after Augustus the Strong, who commissioned a major reconstruction when the medieval structure could no longer handle increasing traffic. Built between 1727 and 1731, the Baroque bridge was 402 metres long and featured 12 arches supported by 11 pillars.

A pillar of this Baroque bridge partially collapsed during severe flooding of the Elbe in 1845 and was subsequently repaired. Due to increasing modern river traffic, the bridge was completely demolished in 1907 and replaced between 1907 and 1910 by a wider, reinforced-concrete structure clad in sandstone, featuring just nine arches. This newer bridge survived the 1945 Allied bombing raids relatively intact but was deliberately blown up by retreating German troops on 7 May 1945, just before the end of the war. It was subsequently restored after the war.

For tourists, the bridge is particularly rewarding for its panoramic views of Dresden’s skyline. Looking towards the Old Town, you can see the Church of Our Lady, the Cathedral, the Royal Palace, and Brühl’s Terrace, while the New Town side opens towards the Golden Rider and Main Street.