etherbrücke

The Etherbrücke is a historic bridge located in the Old Town of Zürich, Switzerland. The current bridge, which spans the Limmat River, was built in 1859-1860 and designed by engineer Paul Kieser. The structure is a single-arch, through-arched bridge with a length of 23 meters and a height of 18 meters above the riverbed.

The construction of the Etherbrücke replaced an earlier, smaller bridge that connected the Altstadt (Old Town) to the district of Lindenhof. Prior to the completion of the current bridge, a ferry service had operated across the Limmat, but this was often subject to disruptions due to ice and strong currents.

The bridge is named after the nearby Äusseres Echterli (a type of rhingrass) and Inneres Echterli (another type of plant, Eichstock). The name 'germanized' to Etherbrücke. The bridge's design features a curved, simple appearance which reflects the architectural aesthetic of the surrounding Old Town.

During World War II, the Etherbrücke was bombed by the Allied Forces as part of a broader effort to damage and destroy German infrastructure. However, the bridge was largely undamaged due to a navigation reporting error. In the aftermath, repairs were carried out to ensure continued safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles.

Today, the Etherbrücke is an important piece of infrastructure for the city of Zürich, serving not only as a vital transportation link but also as a scenic spot for tourists and locals alike to witness the Limmat River flows beneath its surface.