Müngsten Bridge

The Müngsten Bridge between Solingen and Remscheid is the tallest railway bridge in Germany, rising 107 meters above the Wupper valley. The delicate steel arch, finished in 1897, is a landmark of the Bergisches Land and a popular day trip for hikers, photographers and engineering fans. A visit starts in the free Müngsten Bridge Park under the arch, where you can ride a hand-powered cable ferry or book a guided climb up onto the structure.

Why it matters

The bridge, formerly called the Kaiser Wilhelm Bridge, was built by the MAN works at Gustavsburg to a design by Anton von Rieppel. Construction began in 1894, and it opened on July 15, 1897. It is 465 meters long with a main span of 170 meters and contains roughly 5,000 tons of steel held together by about 950,000 rivets. Regional trains still cross it today (S-Bahn line S7 and RE 47). Since 2021 it has been part of a joint bid with five other European arch bridges for UNESCO World Heritage status.

What to do

• Bridge Park (Brückenpark Müngsten): free to enter, with lawns, a playground and views straight up at the arch.
• Cable ferry (Schwebefähre): a hand-pulled ferry across the Wupper that carries about ten people, including wheelchairs, strollers, dogs and bikes. According to the operator it runs from April, Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., weather permitting.
• Bridge climb (Brückensteig): a guided tour up 777 steps onto the steel arch to a height of about 100 meters. You must book in advance on brueckensteig.de, and you need a head for heights.
• Walks: the ferry links both riverbanks so you can plan loop hikes, for example to the Diederichstempel.
• Bridge Festival (Brückenfest): held at the end of October each year with steam train trips; check the 2026 date with the organizer.

Allow 1 to 2 hours for the park and a short walk, or half a day with the climb. The bridge itself is an active railway bridge and may only be entered on the guided tour.

Tickets and hours (as of October 2026)

The park is free to enter. The ferry is paid; ask the operator, Haus Müngsten (+49 212 2339320), for current fares and times. The Haus Müngsten restaurant is open Wednesday and Thursday noon to 5 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Getting there

The address for your navigation is Müngstener Brückenweg 71, 42659 Solingen, with signposted parking. By train, take the S7 to Solingen-Schaberg and walk about one kilometer along a partly steep trail. The area lies in the Bergisches Land, in the Rhine-Ruhr region.