Auguetbrücke

Exterior view of the Auguetbrücke spanning the Aare River between Muri bei Bern and Belp
Interior of the covered wooden Auguetbrücke, showing its timber construction
Commemorative plaque noting the bridge’s original construction, relocation, and heritage status

The Auguetbrücke is a 60-metre-long covered wooden bridge over the Aare River between Muri bei Bern and Belp in the Swiss canton of Bern.[1][2] Originally constructed in 1836 and later relocated to its present site, it now serves as a pedestrian crossing and occasional event venue.[1] The bridge is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance as a B-object.[3]

History

The Auguetbrücke was originally constructed near Hunzigen as part of the road link between the districts of Konolfingen and Seftigen, supported on three timber pile piers. Municipal records date the construction to 1836,[1] while a commemorative plaque on the bridge records 1835. The location of the original crossing is still marked by an old tollhouse.[4] In 1974, the bridge was dismantled and relocated about five kilometres downstream to Auguet, where it reopened as a pedestrian crossing and is occasionally used for small events.[1][4]

A commemorative plaque also notes the bridge's protection under Swiss federal heritage law, consistent with its listing in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance as a B-object, where it appears under both the municipality of Muri bei Bern (KGS no. 05299) and the municipality of Belp (KGS no. 00603).[3]

In August 2015, two women died after their inflatable boat collided with a bridge pier of the Auguetbrücke on the Aare and were dragged under water by the river’s currents. The Swiss Life Saving Society (SLRG) warned that bridge piers can create dangerous currents and eddies capable of pulling a person underwater. According to municipal officials in Muri, signage was in place to warn river users about the hazard.[5]

In May 2025, the Auguetbrücke was officially opened to bicycle traffic, closing a gap in the cantonal cycle network. The change allows cyclists to cross between Belp and Muri and connect with existing national and regional cycling routes.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Auguetbrücke". Gemeindeverwaltung Muri bei Bern. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Structurae [en]: Auguetbrücke". Structurae. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Revision KGS-Inventar 2021: Kantonsliste Kanton BE (Stand: 1.1.2024)" (PDF). Federal Office for Civil Protection (Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz, BABS). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Augutbrücke". Gemeinde Belp. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  5. ^ "«Dann drücken einen 20 Tonnen gegen den Brückenpfeiler»". Tages-Anzeiger. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Auguetbrücke wird für Veloverkehr offiziell freigegeben". Nau.ch. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

46°55′09″N 7°30′01″E / 46.91917°N 7.50028°E / 46.91917; 7.50028

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.