Sternbrücke

Sternbrücke in Frankfurt links the districts of Rödelheim and Bockenheim across a former flood basin beside the Nidda. Red Main sandstone gives the bridge its warm colour and durable masonry. Seven baroque barrel-vaulted arches rise above massive piers, creating a strong view from the surrounding paths. Built between 1803 and 1807, it replaced a medieval wooden bridge that could no longer carry growing traffic.

The crossing once formed part of the Cölnische Hohe Heer- und Geleitstraße, carrying people and goods between Rödelheim and Frankfurt. Horse-drawn carriages used the route before electric trams crossed it until the 1970s. Cars and buses now pass over the historic structure, while the surrounding green belt offers paths for walking, jogging and cycling. Its setting recalls Rödelheim’s former role as a destination for apple wine, dancing and weekend excursions from Frankfurt. Look beneath the roadway for the old Ochsengraben, a watercourse that has since silted up.