The 225 meter long bridge is made of sandstone and has 11 arches in the foreland area and 3 arches over the Werra. The clear widths are around 5 m in the foreshore area and a maximum of 9.6 m in the river area, with maximum center distances of 14 m. The roadway between the parapets is 5.5 m wide. A Werra bridge in Vacha was first mentioned in 1186 as part of the Via Regia. In 1342, the bridge was destroyed in the devastating Magdalen floods and was rebuilt by 1346. It was originally two bridges, as can be seen on the town view by Wilhelm Dillich from 1591. By 1603, both parts had been united into one bridge. This can still be seen today in the bend in the bridge. This witness to many and great military campaigns once consisted of 17 arches, two of which were removed during a major repair between 1802 and 1806. A major repair was carried out as early as 1640 during the Thirty Years' War on behalf of the imperial troops, followed by others in 1696 and 1753. In 1830, the second arch collapsed from the north due to heavy ice. Ultimately, 14 arches remained, spanning three arms of the Werra. At the beginning of the 20th century, the structure was part of Reichsstraße 84. Two arches were blown up during the Second World War and rebuilt in 1950/1951 with reinforced concrete and sandstone cladding. The inner-German border ran right next to the bridge. The bridge was closed to the public until the border between Vacha and Philippsthal was opened on November 12, 1989. An observation tower was built on the bridge, which was removed in 1992. Extensive repairs were carried out in 1993 and 1994.
The 225 meter long bridge is made of sandstone and has 11 arches in the foreland area and 3 arches over the Werra. The clear widths are around 5 m in the foreshore area and a maximum of 9.6 m in the river area, with maximum center distances of 14 m. The roadway between the parapets is 5.5 m wide. A Werra bridge in Vacha was first mentioned in 1186 as part of the Via Regia. In 1342, the bridge was destroyed in the devastating Magdalen floods and was rebuilt by 1346. It was originally two bridges, as can be seen on the town view by Wilhelm Dillich from 1591. By 1603, both parts had been united into one bridge. This can still be seen today in the bend in the bridge. This witness to many and great military campaigns once consisted of 17 arches, two of which were removed during a major repair between 1802 and 1806. A major repair was carried out as early as 1640 during the Thirty Years' War on behalf of the imperial troops, followed by others in 1696 and 1753. In 1830, the second arch collapsed from the north due to heavy ice. Ultimately, 14 arches remained, spanning three arms of the Werra. At the beginning of the 20th century, the structure was part of Reichsstraße 84. Two arches were blown up during the Second World War and rebuilt in 1950/1951 with reinforced concrete and sandstone cladding. The inner-German border ran right next to the bridge. The bridge was closed to the public until the border between Vacha and Philippsthal was opened on November 12, 1989. An observation tower was built on the bridge, which was removed in 1992. Extensive repairs were carried out in 1993 and 1994.
Die 225 Meter lange Brücke besteht aus Sandstein und hat 11 Bögen im Vorlandbereich und 3 Bögen über der Werra. Die lichten Weiten betragen im Vorlandbereich zirka 5 m und maximal 9,6 m im Flussbereich, bei Achsabständen von höchstens 14 m. Die Fahrbahn zwischen den Brüstungen ist 5,5 m breit. Im Jahr 1186 wurde erstmals eine Werrabücke in Vacha als Teil der Via Regia erwähnt. 1342 wurde die Brücke beim verheerenden Magdalenenhochwasser zerstört, bis 1346 erfolgte der Wiederaufbau. Es handelte sich ursprünglich um zwei Brücken, wie auf der Stadtansicht von Wilhelm Dillich von 1591 zu sehen ist. Bis 1603 wurden beide Teile zu einer Brücke vereinigt. Bis heute ist dies an dem Knick der Brücke zu erkennen. Dieser Zeuge vieler und großer Heereszüge bestand einst aus 17 Bögen, zwei davon wurden bei einer Hauptreparatur 1802 bis 1806 entfernt. Eine größere Instandsetzung erfolgte bereits 1640 während des dreißigjährigen Krieges im Auftrag der kaiserlichen Truppen, weitere folgten 1696 und 1753. Bei starkem Eisgang stürzte 1830 der zweite Bogen von Norden ein. Letztlich blieben noch 14 Bögen, die drei Arme der Werra überspannten. Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts war das Bauwerk Teil der Reichsstraße 84. Im Zweiten Weltkrieg wurden zwei Bögen gesprengt, deren Wiederaufbau erfolgte 1950/1951 mit Stahlbeton und einer Sandsteinverkleidung. Die innerdeutsche Grenze verlief unmittelbar an der Brücke. Bis zur Grenzöffnung zwischen Vacha und Philippsthal am 12. November 1989 war die Brücke für die Öffentlichkeit gesperrt. Ein Beobachtungsturm wurde auf der Brücke erbaut, der 1992 wieder entfernt wurde. In den Jahren 1993 und 1994 erfolgte eine umfangreiche Instandsetzung. Der Gedächtnisweg sowie der Radweg zum Grünen Band und Info-Stelen führen tiefer in die Geschichte der Teilung ein.