The Rediscovered Bridge
What makes the bridge near Horsens and Brædstrup so popular?
It has a very special story.
The beautiful red bridge was built in 1899 - and almost 30 years later, the bridge disappeared again, and has for 85 years been covered by a dam.
Therefore, it is also something of a cultural-historical gem.
The bridge was dug free and restored back in 2014, and is today the perfect excursion destination from which you can enjoy the view over the country's only river, namely the river Gudenåen.
You can also enjoy the area with the 4.5 km long walk we have drawn on the map further down the page.
The history
The Rediscovered Bridge was built back in 1899 as part of the railway connection between Horsens and Bryrup - at that time the bridge with its 13.4 meters was the highest of its kind in the whole of the Nordic region.
But:
By 1929, however, the bridge had become obsolete, as the standard for the width of the tracks had been changed; and since the bridge was built to a 1 meter wide gauge, it was too extensive and expensive to have to change the construction of the bridge.
So what did you do then:
Instead, the bridge was hidden and built into a dam by covering it with sand, so that the wider train tracks could be laid on top.
And now that the water from the river Gudenåen could not flow freely, it was led in through the dam via two pipes
This was the case for many years:
When the bridge was excavated in 2014, they were impressed by the fine condition of the bridge, and it was then decided to preserve the bridge as a momentum for the 18th century construction work.
The hidden bridge became the Rediscovered Bridge and you can enjoy today unique nature and culture in wonderful union.
Bicycle and walking routes at the Rediscovered Bridge
The Rediscovered Bridge, and its beautiful nature and culture around, is a true experience. The area offers a wealth of experiences related to the bridge; the expansion of the railway in Denmark, the old tricotage factory that got a step board on the track, a hydroelectric power plant that was supposed to generate electricity in the post-war period and much more. We have created a few guided tours around all of this, which can make your experience of the bridge even more exciting..
Frequently asked questions
Below we have collected the most frequently asked questions about Den Genfundne Bro. If you do not find an answer to your question, you are always welcome to write to us at info@opdagdanmark.dk
If you have tips and suggestions for visits, you are very welcome to write them in a review further down the page.
If you set course for the bridge, it is best to drive to the car park, which has the address Søvejen 2, 8752 Østbirk
There is public parking at the address Søvejen 2, 8752 Østbirk close to the bridge. Note that in the high season there can be many visitors and therefore difficult to get parking space.
The GenfundneBro was built back in 1899 as part of the railway connection between Horsens and Bryrup.
The bridge got its name because for 85 years - from 1929 to 2014 - it was hidden under sand in a dam.
Yes, we have recorded two routes in the area, respectively. 5 and 11 km, which you will also find in our app with maps and descriptions of experiences along the way.