September 21, 2024, 5:38 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Germany is home to a multitude of sights that not only boast historical significance but also impressive records. From the narrowest street to the longest castle in the world – there are real superlatives to discover here.
Locals know that Germany has impressive landscapes and a diverse culture to offer. Tourists also enjoy the numerous attractions that are waiting to be discovered. And the country can score particularly well with some of them – because some of the sights in Germany break records …
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These sights in Germany are real record-holders
The world’s largest brick bridge: Göltzschtal Bridge
Saxony is home to a true masterpiece of engineering and a remarkable sight in Germany: the Göltzschtal Bridge. At 574 meters long and 78 meters high, it is the largest brick bridge in the world and has been the region’s landmark since 1851. In order to connect the first German railroad lines between Nuremberg and Leipzig, a prize was offered for the best bridge design at the time.
The winner was expected to receive 1000 thalers. However, none of the ideas were convincing, as none of the bridges were strong enough. Engineer and professor Johann Andreas Schubert sensed his chance and combined the best proposals. This ultimately resulted in today’s Göltzschtal Bridge, which is still used by trains today.
The largest cold-water geyser in the world: Geysir Andernach
The world’s largest cold-water geyser is located in Rhineland-Palatinate in the beautiful town of Andernach. With an impressive height of up to 60 meters, the geyser shoots its fountain into the air, making it the highest in the world. It was discovered in 1903/1904 on the Namedyer Werth peninsula when drilling was carried out there. Although people had noticed that gas bubbles kept rising in the years before, nobody suspected what was really behind it – namely, pure mineral water shooting out of the ground. From 1904, this geyser was even used to produce drinking water.
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The world’s most leaning tower: The bell tower in Gau-Weinheim
The Leaning Tower of Pisa may be famous, but a tower in the Rhineland-Palatinate has now surpassed it. With an inclination of around 5.43 degrees, the bell tower in G au-Weinheim is officially the most leaning tower in the world, knocking the previous record holder off its throne: the church tower from Suurhusen in East Frisia, which is also one of the most significant sights in Germany.
The world’s longest canal bridge: Magdeburg Trough Bridge
In Saxony-Anhalt, the Magdeburg Trough Bridge spans the River Elbe and connects the Mittelland Canal with the Elbe-Havel Canal. With a length of 918 meters, it is the longest canal bridge in the world and an impressive example of modern hydraulic engineering. It took a whole 75 years to build! Three times as much steel was used in its construction as in the Eiffel Tower. This makes it the largest steel structure in Europe.
The world’s narrowest street: Spreuerhofstraße in Reutlingen
In Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, you will find the narrowest street in the world: Spreuerhofstraße. With a width of just 31 centimeters at its narrowest point, this street is not only a popular photo motif but has also earned itself an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, making it one of the top sights in Germany. The street owes its name to the former Spreuerhof, a grain warehouse. However, a major fire then destroyed a large part of the city – during reconstruction, the narrowest alley in the world was finally created.
The world’s longest castle: Burghausen Castle
Towering over the town of Burghausen in Bavaria is the world’s longest castle and also one of the largest sights in Germany. The mighty fortress stretches an impressive 1051 meters along a mountain ridge and is considered a historical jewel. It was built in 1255 as the second seat of the Wittelsbach dukes of Lower Bavaria. Not least due to its location above the Salzach river, it was the strongest fortress in the country for a long time. In fact, it has never been taken in its entire history.
The world’s highest chain carousel: Allgäuflieger
Attention adrenaline junkies: The Allgäu is home to the world’s highest chain carousel. This attraction, the “Allgäuflieger” in Skyline Park, offers its brave passengers a breathtaking view and a number of thrills at a dizzying height of almost 150 meters. The carousel reportedly took over five months to build.