Behold the Max-Joseph-Brücke, a bridge not just of stone but of stories. It stands here connecting Bogenhausen and the Englischer Garten. But its history is more turbulent than the Isar river flowing beneath it.
This isn’t the first bridge to grace this location. Back in 1804, a wooden bridge tentatively spanned the Isar. But like many things built in haste or without proper care, it suffered technical failings and floods. The Isar took it apart several times. It needed replacing in 1811, again in 1826, and yet again in 1876. Each time, a new bridge tried to tame the river.
The 1876 attempt was an iron bridge. It was believed to be stronger than the wooden predecessors. However, on September 13, 1899, disaster struck. A flood, one of the worst ever recorded, swept the iron bridge away.
Thus the city decided to build a more permanent bridge. In November 1901, construction began on the Max-Joseph-Brücke you see today. It was named after King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. Theodor Fischer designed the bridge. The construction was managed by the firm Sager & Woerner.
Interestingly, the builders cleverly reused the scaffolding. They had used it for the Prinzregentenbrücke. They modified it slightly and used it a second time. Concrete was new at that time. So they used shell limestone for the 64-meter arch. It came from quarries near Würzburg.
Back then, this area was outside Munich. The bridge mainly served delivery traffic. Therefore the design was simple. The sides weren’t clad. There were few decorations. U-shaped water spouts were installed under the railing. The bridge got copper cartouches showing the Münchner Kindl. Also, the bridge featured a novelty. It had a public WC in the left abutment. Pedestrian underpasses were added on both sides. The Max-Joseph-Brücke opened to traffic on September 1, 1902.
The Max-Joseph-Brücke survived the Second World War almost unscathed. It was thoroughly renovated in 1974. They installed a reinforced concrete roadway and sealed it. The sidewalk surfaces were replaced. The railings above the arch were rebuilt in reinforced concrete. They clad them with natural stone. The bridge was renovated again in 2001. They repaired the roadway and tram tracks.
Look closely at the bridge’s abutments. You will find allegorical sculptures. They represent the elements. Air, water, fire, and earth are all depicted. Sculptors Heinrich Düll, Georg Pezold, Max Heilmaier, and Eugen Mayer-Fassold created them. Plant and animal reliefs flank the figures.
Consider this: below the Max-Joseph-Brücke, swimming is permitted in the Isar. You can swim 200 meters downstream of it.
The Max-Joseph-Brücke stands as a testament to resilience. It connects not just land but also the past and present. It is a reminder that even stone can tell a story. This is a story of floods, ingenuity, and enduring beauty.