Mauterner Donaubrücke

The Mauterner Brücke spans the Danube between Stein, a district of Krems, and Mautern in Lower Austria. Built in 1895 as the Kaiser-Franz-Joseph-Brücke, it replaced an earlier wooden structure dating back to 1463. The bridge’s two southern spans were rebuilt after partial destruction in 1945 using Roth-Waagner equipment. Its steel half-parabolic trusses, fabricated by Waagner and Gridl in Vienna, were an engineering advance for their time. The bridge carried military significance during both world wars, with bunkers built nearby in 1915. In 1945, retreating German forces destroyed part of the bridge, which was quickly rebuilt by German prisoners under Soviet supervision. Visitors today see the original 1895 trusses alongside the post-war repairs, clearly marked by parallel-girder design. The bridge is 374 metres long with 11-metre-wide walkways added later. A Brückenwärterhaus beside the structure also remains under protection, offering a quiet spot to view the Danube’s flow.