Holbeinsteg Footbridge across the river Main in Frankfurt (Germany)

The carrying power of a bridge is not the average strength of the pillars, but the strength of the weakest pillar.

Zygmunt Bauman

Eiserner Steg (Iron Bridge) over the Main River in Frankfurt (Germany) painted by Heinz Zimmermann

"While sailing over the wine-dark sea

 to men of strange speech"

Inscription in the 

Eiserner Steg bridge

Flosser Brucke crossing the River Main in Frankfurt (Germany)

Frankfurt, du mein Quell der Inspiration,
du dörfliche Großstadt im Herzen dieses Kontinents, du Bienenkorb vieler Kulturen und Ethnien, deine Zeil ist dein pulsierendes Herz,
der Römer der Kopf, das Haupt der Stadt, du Stadt des Geistes, der Universität und von Goethe, du Stadt des Geldes, der Banken und der Börse. Oh mein stolzes Frankfurt.

Frankfurt, my source of inspiration, you village metropolis in the heart of the continent, you beehive of many cultures and ethnic groups, your time is thy beating heart, the romans, the high head of the city, you city of the souls, the university and Goethe, you city of the money, the banks and the stock exchange. Oh my proud Frankfurt.

Thomas Fix

Ignatz Bubis Bridge over the Main River in Frankfurt (Germany)

Es is kaa Stadt uff der weite Welt, 

die so merr wie mei Frankfort gefällt,

un es will merr net in mein Kopp enei, 

wie kann nor e Mensch net von Frankfort sei

Un wär´sch e Engel un Sonnekalb, 

e Fremder is immer von außerhalb!

Der beste Mensch is e Ärjerniß, 

wann er net aach von Frankfort is.

Friedrich Stoltze

Deutschherrn Brücke over the River Main in Frankfurt (Germany)

The builder had agreed to complete the bridge by a certain date. As the date approached he saw that it would be impossible to meet the deadline. With only two days remaining, in his fear he called upon the devil and asked him for help.The devil appeared to him and offered to complete the bridge during the last night if the builder would deliver to him the first living being that crossed the bridge. The contract was settled, and during the last night the devil completed the bridge. In the darkness no human eye saw how he did it. At the break of day the builder came and drove a rooster across the bridge ahead of himself, thus delivering it to the devil. However, the latter had expected a human soul, and when he saw that he had been deceived he angrily grabbed the rooster, ripped it apart, and threw it through the bridge, thus causing the two holes that to the present day cannot be mortared shut. Any repair work that is completed during the day just falls apart the next night.

Legend about an old bridge in Frankfurt

Alte Brucke (Old Bridge) crossing the River Main in Frankfurt am Main (Germany)