Altenbekener Viadukt

The Altenbekener Viadukt spans the Beke valley west of Altenbeken across 24 limestone arches stretching 482 metres, making it Europe's longest limestone viaduct. Completed in 1853 as part of the Hamm–Warburg railway line, the structure was built using local limestone quarried directly from the adjacent Egge uplands — a practical choice that also gave the bridge its distinctive pale, textured appearance. Listed as an architectural monument in North Rhine-Westphalia, it remains an active double-track railway crossing. Visitors following the valley trail below gain the most striking perspective on the full arch sequence rising above the forested hillside, and the nearby Eggegebirge hiking network passes directly at the base of the piers.