A whisper of Art Nouveau. That’s what the Greifenhagener Brücke offers. This isn’t just any bridge. It’s a silent story teller. A testament to Berlin’s resilience.
The Greifenhagener Brücke also known as Greifenhagener Steg is a pedestrian and cyclist bridge. It spans the railway tracks in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district. It elegantly carries Greifenhagener Straße over the S-Bahn and long-distance train lines. This is at the eastern exit of the Schönhauser Allee S-Bahn station.
Built between 1910 and 1911 it’s an iron framework bridge. Engineers Fritz Hedde and architect Arno König designed this marvel. The Greifenhagener Brücke is a protected monument. It rests on several pairs of iron supports. These are strategically placed between the railway tracks.
Amazingly the bridge survived both World Wars unscathed. The walkway received an asphalt covering later. Sadly almost all the railings are now defaced. They are covered with graffiti and unauthorized stickers. A staircase directly on the bridge leads to the Schönhauser Allee S-Bahn station. This was added with the construction of the Schönhauser Allee Arcaden. This also involved demolishing the old access building on the north side.
But look closer. Notice the details. Art Nouveau ornaments adorn the bridge. Some are stamped into the metal others are inlaid. Four pairs of wrought-iron lamps add to its charm. These were crafted in the workshop of Eduard Puls a renowned blacksmith.
A touch of unexpected gold glitters beneath the bridge. In 1990 the artist duo p.t.t.red gilded a steel support. This was part of the urban installation Golden Ratio through Berlin. Remarkably East Berlin’s city administration approved the gilding even before the fall of the Wall.
So next time you cross the Greifenhagener Brücke remember its history. Remember the craftsmanship. Remember that splash of gold. It’s more than a way across the tracks. It’s a piece of Berlin’s enduring spirit.