Tauber Bridge, Rothenburg

The Tauber Bridge, also known as the Double Bridge, is a historic road bridge that crosses the Tauber River southwest of the city center of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Middle Franconia. It is recognized for its unique design featuring two rows of arches stacked on top of each other. The bridge is believed to have been constructed around 1330 and served as part of a trade route connecting Augsburg to Würzburg.

The Double Bridge underwent repairs in 1791 after the collapse of four upper arches the previous year. In 1925, the eastern approach to the bridge was expanded. However, during World War II, on April 16, 1945, retreating German troops blew up the bridge, just a day before the city was peacefully occupied by the US Army. The reconstruction of the bridge was completed on November 10, 1956, after more than a year of construction.

Constructed using shell limestone masonry, the Tauber Bridge connects the lower left and west bank of the Tauber River with the right bank, leading to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The roadway of the bridge rises towards the southeast, resulting in a single arch with a width of 12.5 meters at the northwestern end near Leuzenbronn. This arch spans the Mühlenbach of the Herrenmühle. A 5.0-meter-wide pillar marks the beginning of the double-decker section of the bridge towards Rothenburg.