The Oberbaum Bridge (German Oberbaumbrücke) spans the river Spree in the south east of Berlin, linking Kreuzberg formerly in West Berlin and Friedrichshain formerly in East Berlin. On the 1st of January 2001 these two districts became part of a unified administractive district (Bezirk) of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. The bridge was built in the neo-Gothic style in the last decade of the 19th century and is designed to look like city walls. It was badly damaged during WW2 and from 1963 became infamous as a pedestrian border crossing point used mainly by elderly visitors from the East.

After reunification the bridge was restored and re-opened to trains and road traffic in 1995. A yellow Berlin U-Bahn train is crossing on the upper bridge, while cars are using the lower level. In the distance between the two towers is the das Rote Rathaus, the red town hall. On the right, the Fernsehturm, tv tower.

The Oberbaumbrücke is one of the most spectacular bridges I've seen anywhere. Another interesting bridge linking two formerly separate areas unified in one administrative district is Runcorn Bridge in North West England.

More about Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg on Wikipedia.

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Keywords: Berlin, Germany, bridges, trains, rivers, River Spree, East Berlin, West Berlin, Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Berlin Before and After premium image