There are over 1500 bridges that can be found in Berlin, Germany, yet there are two bridges that one will most likely find on in postcards, both past and present: The Oberbaumbrücke near Berlin Ostbahnhof Station and this one, the Jungfernbrücke.
The Jungfernbrücke is a drawbridge spanning the Spree Canal at Oberwasserstrasse in the suburb Berlin-Mitte. The bridge is the second crossing at this site, having been built in 1798, replacing a wooden crossing. The bridge designer was Friedrich Becherer. The structure features a double-leaf bascule bridge, whose wooden decking is supported by chains and is lifted by hand with a turn of the wheel located on both sides of the iron the towers. Unlike most bridges in Berlin that were destroyed in World War II, this bridge survived in tact. It has been renovated five times: in 1939, 1954, 1967, 1979 and its last one in 1999. The bridge serves pedestrian traffic.
Both bridges were located in the former East Germany and in this postcard, with people walking across the structure, one can see the East German flag in the background, flanked by architecture that was typical during that time. While the 28 meter long structure has lost its function as a drawbridge, its aesthetic value has remained the same today, even though the area has been built up by modernized buildings. You can find this in the photo taken in 2010:
The Jungfern Bridge, albeit hard to find, is a unique structure that one needs to visit while in Berlin, especially as a pontist and/or photographer. Together with the Oberbaumbrücke, they represent two of Berlin’s finest bridges. Yet one can find many more unique structures- past and present- while visiting the city,by boat, rail, foot or bike. Each one is easily accessible to visit and also with the lens of the camera.
There are several books on Berlin’s bridges you can purchase to learn more about them, their history and their location. Three of them are found here. Click onto the windows and you will be directed to the Amazon website where you can order them. The book at the bottom is the newest edition, published in April this year.
The Bridgehunter's Chronicles 