Göltzsch Viaduct

The Göltzsch Viaduct (Göltzschtalbrücke) near Netzschkau in the Vogtland region of Saxony is the largest brick bridge in the world, 574 meters long and 78 meters high, with 98 arches. Built in the 1840s and 1850s, it still carries trains on the Saxony-Franconia main line. It is a good stop for engineering fans and photographers.

Why it is famous

The bridge was built between 1846 and 1851 for the Saxon-Bavarian Railway Company on the Leipzig to Hof line. Johann Andreas Schubert designed it using the then-new line-of-thrust theory. About 26 million bricks went into it, and 31 workers died during construction. It opened on July 15, 1851, and was then the highest railway bridge in the world. The deck was widened in 1930, the masonry restored in the 1950s, and the line electrified between 2010 and 2012. In 2009 it was named a Historic Landmark of Civil Engineering in Germany. The city of Reichenbach voted in 2020 to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status. A similar but smaller bridge, the Elster Viaduct, stands about 10 kilometers to the southwest.

Where to see it

The bridge is closed to pedestrians, so the only way to experience it from above is by train, on the regional trains between Netzschkau and Reichenbach. For photos, go to the viewpoint in Netzschkau, reached via the extension of Reinsdorfer Weg near Hermann-Löns-Straße, which has a small rest area with a swing. Marked paths lead around the viaduct, and there are beer gardens nearby. The rock festival "Rock Classics" turns the bridge into Saxony's largest open-air arena on the Saturday of Pentecost.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026 we found no official opening hours or admission fees. The bridge and its surroundings can be seen outdoors. Ask the town of Netzschkau or the bridge's support association about guided tours.

Getting there

The nearest railway station is Netzschkau, about two kilometers on foot from the bridge. There are several car parks in the area that travel sites describe as paid; we did not verify prices. Check Deutsche Bahn for connections.

Future plans

Reports describe a planned year-round attraction called "GöltzschExperience 360°" with a visitor center, an adventure trail, a playground and a 700-meter zipline through a lower arch, at a cost of around 30 million euros, with construction slated for 2028 and completion by 2031. These facilities do not yet exist.