Blaues Wunder (Loschwitz Bridge)

The Blaues Wunder, or Blue Wonder, is the popular name of the Loschwitz Bridge, a steel bridge over the Elbe that links the districts of Blasewitz and Loschwitz in eastern Dresden, in Saxony, Germany. Opened in 1893, the bridge is about 141 metres long and was designed as a self-supporting steel construction, with no pillars in the river, which was a notable engineering feat at the time. It owes its nickname to its original green paint, which is said to have turned blue after the bridge was first exposed to the weather, and it is now painted a pale blue. It survived the Second World War, when most other Elbe bridges were destroyed, and is still used by road traffic, trams on the nearby routes, cyclists and pedestrians. Visitors can walk across it in a few minutes, but the main appeal lies in the surroundings. The Loschwitz bank has a promenade with cafes and beer gardens, the funicular and suspension railway are a short walk away, and the villas of Blasewitz rise on the opposite side. A full visit with the waterfront takes 30 to 60 minutes. The best photographs are taken from the Elbe meadows on the Blasewitz side, from the river bank beside the bridge, and from the paddle steamers that pass beneath it. Late afternoon light and the evening, when the bridge is lit, are the favourite times. The area is busiest on sunny weekends and summer evenings, when the terraces fill, and quiet on weekday mornings. The bridge is free to cross at any time. It is reached by tram 6 or 12 to Schillerplatz followed by a short walk, or by Elbe paddle steamer, which stops at Blasewitz and Loschwitz.