What a bridge tells
Perhaps you should keep this in mind when you drive or hike across the Mautern Bridge: This place was already used in Roman antiquity to cross the Danube. According to the "bridge privilege" of 1463, the obligation to maintain the bridge went to Mautern, with half of the toll revenue going to the ruler. At the end of the 19th century, "chain shipping" was introduced to Linz and with it larger barges: after an accident, a wider bridge span made of iron was needed.
In 1895, the new, larger Kaiser Franz Joseph Bridge was finally opened. 50 years later, the German Wehrmacht blew it up towards the end of the Second World War. Under Soviet supervision, German prisoners of war rebuilt the two southern spans of the bridge in just 60 days.
With its long and turbulent history, the Mautern Bridge is only partially able to cope with today's traffic requirements. However, the unique "bridge image" at Mautern is to be preserved: An extensive renovation is planned by 2028.
Would you have thought it?
After Vienna, in 1463 Mautern was the second bridge in what is now Austria to offer a crossing over the Danube secured by a "Privilegium".
