Gertraudenbrücke

Gertraudenbrücke crosses Berlin’s Spree Canal along the route connecting Leipziger Straße, Spittelmarkt and Gertraudenstraße. The bridge carries the B1 road through the city. Built in the 1970s, it consists of two separate steel structures with girder grids and orthotropic deck plates. Its single span places the water directly beneath the roadway, while the surrounding streets connect central Berlin’s historic and modern districts. A bronze sculpture of Saint Gertrude stands beside the crossing, three metres tall and surrounded by fleeing rats and mice. The animals recall her legendary protection against plagues of vermin.

Many visitors rub the bronze rats for luck or hoped-for wealth. Inspections in 2019 found structural problems, leading to restrictions on heavy traffic. Plans provide for a replacement bridge that can carry a new tram line and meet modern transport demands. The wider project includes preserving the nearby Old Gertraudenbrücke as part of the area’s historic character. Garden plazas beside the water are also planned, creating a more accessible connection between the canal and the streets. The detail that stays with you is the polished rat at Saint Gertrude’s feet, touched by countless hopeful hands.