Kennedybrücke (Kennedy Bridge), Bonn

Kennedy Bridge is the central of Bonn’s three Rhine crossings, linking the charming old town on Bonn’s west bank with the lively Beuel district on the east. Originally built in 1948–49 on the surviving piers of an earlier 1898 bridge, it was officially inaugurated on 12 November 1949. At the time, its impressive 195.8 m main span established it as the longest girder bridge over the Rhine, embodying both the resilience and renewal of post-war Germany.

On 2 December 1963-just ten days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy-the bridge was renamed in his honour, reflecting Bonn’s strong international relations and solidarity with the U.S. Since then, the bridge has seen a variety of upgrades: most notably a major expansion between 2007 and 2011 that widened the deck from 18 m to 26.8 m, added separate tram tracks, reinforced pedestrian and cycling paths, and even installed solar panels-the first of its kind on a river bridge in Europe.