Hohenzollern Bridge

The Hohenzollern Bridge carries around 1,200 trains daily, making it Germany's busiest railway bridge — and one of Cologne's most photographed vantage points. The original structure was commissioned under Kaiser Wilhelm II and completed in 1911, featuring equestrian statues of Hohenzollern rulers that still flank the western bridgehead today. In March 1945, retreating Wehrmacht forces blew up the bridge to slow Allied advances; the current steel-arch spans were rebuilt between 1948 and 1959. Around 2008 the love-lock tradition took hold here, and the railings now carry hundreds of thousands of padlocks weighing an estimated 500 tonnes. Pedestrians cross on walkways running alongside the rail tracks, gaining an unobstructed sightline to the cathedral's twin-spired facade directly opposite.

1911 arch bridge right behind the cathedral, both railings densely covered in love padlocks.