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This multi-cache has a length of about 16km and can be readily done by bike. There are no significant altitude changes, except a few stairways.
This Cache leads to all bridges traversing the Danube canal.
If you know the Danube canal, you also know that not everything there is worth seeing. However, I did not want to skip any bridge.
As a small aid, the right side of the river is given for all stages (except for the cache and stages in the middle of a bridge) as "left" or "right" as seen downstream. Thus it should be possible to cross the river in time where necessary.
Stage 1 - J. v. Schemerlbrücke
N48° 15.550 E16° 22.133
(right)
A watergate bridge. After the blocking ship had been replaced by a dam and a watergate in 1898 (constructed by Otto Wagner), also this bridge was built. Demolished by the Germans in World War 2, it was reerected in 1953-1955.
Count the bordered "metal flowers" left and right of the gateway to the bridge. The result (a two-digit odd number) is A
Stage 2 - Railway Bridge 1
N48° 15.477 E16° 22.153
(right)
You are now almost under a railway bridge. Above, there is a signal system, on which there are (amongst other things) two large black letters on a white background. Convert the second letter (using the scheme A=1, B=2,...). The result is B1
Stage 3 - Railway Bridge 2
N48 15.320 E16 22.199
(right)
Again you arrive under a railway bridge. Look at the opposite headland and carefully examine the parking sign ("für Kleinfahrzeuge, die auf Schleusung warten"). On this sign there is also a two-digit number with a crossfoot of 7. Take this two-digit number as B2.
Stage 4 - Road Bridge 1
N48° 15.268 E16° 22.219
(right)
B277 Exit Klosterneuburg out of town
Here there is a stairway to the road. On the lowermost base there is a 4-digit blue number preceded by the letter "B". Add this blue number to the number of stairs, the result is C1.
Stage 5 - Road Bridge 2
N48° 15.190 E16° 22.255
(right)
B227 Exit Handelskai into town
You now should see a lamp right next to a driving prohibition sign. Have a close look on the lamp and count the (visible) screws in the mounting. The result (a odd, one-digit number) is C2.
Stage 6 - Nußdorfer Steg
N48° 15.102 E16° 22.314
(right)
The Nussdorfer Steg, built in 1999, is an important pedestrian and bike bridge crossing the Danube canal. 80 tons of steel have been used for this construction.
Count the stairs on this side of the canal and add the number of lamps embedded in the ground. The result is D1
Stage 7 - Nußdorfer Bridge
N48° 15.084 E16° 22.364
(left)
Here, right next to the bridge pier, you see a duct cover. On this cover there is amongst other things also a two-digit number followed by a "T". This number is C3.
Stage 8 - Road Bridge 3
N48° 15.014 E16° 22.350
(left)
B227 Exit Handelskai into town
Here you see a white rock on the ground, with a big red and a small black figure on it. Take the red figure, and double it to get C4.
Stage 9 - Heiligenstädter Bridge
N48° 14.652 E16° 22.052
(left)
The Heiligenstädter Bridge (formerly: Kaiser-Franz-Josephs-Regierungsjubiläums-Bridge) was errected by Ing. Karl Haberkalt in 1883-1889. After its destruction in World War 2, it was reopened 1961 after the rebuilding was completed.
There is again a duct cover that you should examine: a two-digit odd number, preceded by "STR. ABL.", gives E.
Now cross the whole bridge and follow the small one-way street (the road now should be between you and the canal).
Stage 10 - Döblinger Steg
N48° 14.395 E16° 21.782
("full" right)
The Döblinger Steg was built in 1910 and nowadays is only used as a pedestrian crossing connecting the 19th and 20th district of Vienna.
On this side of the Döblinger Steg, look up and see a rectangular white sign with a black 4-digit number. This number is D2
Stage 11 - Gürtelbrücke
N48° 14.167 E16° 21.689
(right)
It was built in 1964 as a connection between the 19th and 20th discrict of Vienna, and nowadays is one of the most important bridges of the Danube canal. It connects the Gürtel (belt road) with the Adalbert-Stifter-Street. The exit to the canal expressway was adapted on the occasion of the errection of the subway bridge.
Look up, and you should see a single black letter on the bridge pier. Convert this letter (A=1, B=2, ...), the result is F (you also may look at the spoiler picture for stage 11)
Stage 12 - Road/Subway/Pedestrian Bridge
N48° 14.132 E16° 21.684
(right)
On this bridge there is the B221 Exit Brigittenauer Lände, the U6 subway and a pedestrian/bike lane. During the modification of the Gürtel-Stadtbahnlinie (city tram) to the U6 subway, the line of the city tram was altered and the new U6 (to Floridsdorf) was routed over the subway bridge errected in 1996. It was built as a cable-stayed bridge in an inclined position. On the Döbling side, the U6 line is in an elevated position, and goes underground immediately on the other side in the Brigittenau.
Look for the benchmark U6 18/1. With how many screws this plate is mounted on the pier? The square of this number is G.
Stage 13 - Friedensbrücke (Bridge of Peace)
N48° 13.625 E16° 21.885
(right)
Brigittabrücke, Brigittenauer Brücke (nowadays known as Friedensbrücke), errected in 1871 to 1872 using a concept of Otto Schönthal and Emil Hoppe.
The Friedensbrücke was built in 1924 to 1926 at the position of the former Brigittabrücke. Before the start of construction, the Brigittabrücke was moved 20 meters upstream, to keep up the traffic crossing the Danube canal. The Friedensbrücke has a total width of 23,20 meters and includes - besides the roadway - also two tram tracks and pedestrian lanes on both sides. Clearance for traffic on October 3rd 1926. Destroyed in the last year of war, it was reerected in 1946 and broadened in 1969-1971.
You see a post with a large blue subway sign ("U"). Below this blue sign there are two similar signposts. Count ALL letters on ONE of the signposts to get H.
Stage 14 - Siemens-Nixdorf-Steg
N48° 13.407 E16° 22.066
(right)
Pedestrian/bike bridge.
In former times, there has been a ferry at this place.
There is a stairway to the Danube canal promenade. Count all stairs on this side of the bank, and double it to get D3.
Stage 15 - Rossauer Bridge
N48° 13.177 E16° 22.099
(right)
This bridge was built as an extension of the Rembrandt street in the years 1981-1983.
On the backside of the pedestal of the statue of Holy Johannes von Nepomuk, you see a Roman number. The number of figures (or letters) of this number is I.
Stage 16 - Augarten Bridge
N48° 13.115 E16° 22.184
(right)
The Augarten Bridge was errected by request of emporer Joseph II in 1782 as a wood bridge.
Replaced by a chain bridge in 1872, it was renamed to Maria-Theresien-Bridge, and since 1919 is known as Augarten Bridge.
The new bridge of 1931 was destroyed in the war, and was the first of the canal bridges to be reerected.
Look closely at the painting showing the bridge in the times of 1782-1829. How many men can you see? This number is J.
Stage 17 - Salztorbrücke
N48° 12.836 E16° 22.473
(right)
1828, the Carls-Steg resided at this place, which had toll cots at both ends (equestrians and pedestrians had to pay a toll charge). 1884 the catwalk was replaced by a broad stone bridge, which could be used also by carts and was named Stephanie bridge, after the spouse of Kronprinz Rudolf. Since 1919 it was known as Salztorbrücke and was reerected after its destruction 1945 in 1961 as last of the canal bridges.
Here you see a griffin. Below it there are four dates. The last of the years is K.
Stage 18 - Marienbrücke
N48° 12.764 E16° 22.610
It replaced a ferry in 1906. After destruction in 1945, it was rebuilt as first bridge in the new ferroconcrete construction method. (This method intensifies the effect of the ferroconcrete - the concrete takes the compressive stress, the steel strings the tensile load -by pretensioning of the steel strings and increasing the load capacity)
In the middle of the bridge there is a statue of Maria. Count all letters of the second line of the text (between the "=") to get L.
Stage 19 - Schwedenbrücke
N48° 12.741 E16° 22.717
(left)
Schlagbrücke - the oldest bridge over this arm of the Danube. Its name is dervied from an old German word for "slaughter", as it was used for slaughtering to ease the drain of the blood. It is first documented 1364 and was the only connection of Vienna to the suburb of Leopoldstadt until 1722. Similar to Taborbrücke, it was a simple wooden trestle bridge, still it was already lit during night, and it was the first time that the direction of traffic was regulated with separate tracks. It was the birth of the (then) left-hand driving. Also this bridge was destroyed, this time by a strike of ice. The fundament of the reerected bridge was replaced by a stonewalled foundation in 1819, and the bridge was renamed Ferdinandbrücke. But due to the weight, the original stone paving had to be replaced by a wooden one. The wooden bridge was replaced 1911, after two years of construction, by an iron arch bridge, and 1920 renamed to Schwedenbrücke (Swede's Bridge) to pay tribute to the generous Swedish help after World War I (just as almost all names from the time of monarchy where changed after the war).
Let's look once more under the bridge! In a height of about one meter there are doors in the bridge piers. The number of these doors is M.
Stage 20 - Aspernbrücke
N48° 12.729 E16° 22.955
(left)
The Aspernbrücke, built as chain bridge around 1863, was dismantled 1913 and replaced by a new one only 1920. After its destruction in World War II, it was reerected in 1949-1951.
Under this bridge you should see a white sign with a red border telling the maximal load per track. This (4-digit) number is N.
Stage 21 - Franzensbrücke
N48° 12.813 E16° 23.475
(left)
The Franzensbrücke was errected in 1782, but collapsed in 1799. As a downright statical challenge, an extremly flat wooden arch bridge was built in 1803. It was replaced 1848 by a chain bridge, according to the custom of the time, which had to be extended due to the heavily increased traffic in 1866. However, the whole bridge had to be replaced in 1899. Destroyed in 1945, it was immediatly rebuilt after the end of the war.
We stay at the bottom. Here you should see (pretty dirty) lamps mounted at the piers. Their (odd) number is O.
Stage 22 - Railway Bridge 3
N48° 12.793 E16° 23.542
(left)
Down here it also does not look too palatably. You should be next to a somewhat skewed railing. With how many poles this railing is fastened to the ground? Count these vertical poles to get B3.
Stage 23 - Rotundenbrücke
N48° 12.352 E16° 23.839
1797 the first wooden bridge was built at this place by Fürst Rasumofsky. After its destruction by the ice stroke of 1809, a stone bridge was built in 1810, which in turn did not withstand the flood waters. 1825 the first suspension bridge was errected, a chain bridge with a range of 71m. It was now renamed to Sophienbrücke. Damaged during the revolution of 1848, it was dismantled and newly built for the planned world exhibition in 1873. The Rotundenbridge built in 1937 by Clemens Holzmeister was destroyed in 1945, and reerected ten years later.
Quite in the middle of the bridge (on the sidewalk) there is a duct cover. Amongst other things, there is a 4-digit date and another 4-digit number preceded by a "B" on it. Add both numbers, the crossfoot of the result is P.
Stage 24 - Erdberger Steg
N48° 12.144 E16° 24.131
The Erdberger Steg is a pedestrian and bike bridge and crosses the canal in the area of Erdbergerlände (3rd district) and Schüttelstraße (2nd district). The supporting frame is a modern construction of layered local larch wood. The counter bearing and the fundaments are made of cast-in-place concrete.
In former times, also at this place there used to be a ferry.
Again you have to go to the middle of the bridge. On the ground there are "painted" road signs. Add the number of signs to the number of lamps exactly above your head. The result is D4.
Stage 25 - Stadionbrücke
N48° 11.785 E16° 24.631
(right)
As Kaiser-Franz-Josephs-Brücke this bridge was built in 1873 for the world exhibition. Renamed 1919 to Schlachthausbrücke, it was demolished in 1936 and reerected as Stadionbrücke.
Go downstairs (or upstairs) and count the steps. The result is Q.
Stage 26 - Erdberger Bridge
N48 11.557 E16 24.975
(right)
The Erdberger bridge was built 1969 -1971 in the course of the extension of the Südosttangente (important city highway).
Now it's getting very loud: beside and above you are the highways. Under the bridge (between the piers) there is an electro box with two doors. Count the ventilation slots on both doors. Now look for a lamp post nearby with a mounted speed limit road sign. Below this sign there is a 3-digit number (preceded by an "A"). Add the number of slots you counted before to this 3-digit number, and you get R.
Stage 27 - Gasworks Runway 1
N48° 11.452 E16° 25.156
(right)
The gasworks runway with its ramps and stairways also connects the 2nd and 3rd district. It is the link between the recreation area of the Prater and the city development area „mais:wien“. It spans the Danube canal, both lanes of the Ostautobahn (A4) highway, and the service station of the subway as well as the Erdbergstraße.
Here you should see grates in the ground which are all labelled with a 3-letter name, the second letter being a "T". Take the last letter and convert it (A=1, B=2, ...) to get D5.
Stage 28 - Ostbahnbrücke
N48° 11.210 E16° 25.899
(left)
In the year 1870, the German company C. Harkort constructed this bridge designed by Anton Battig and August Köstlin. It was errected as two-track framework bridge. 1939 the Ostbahnbrücke was modified by the national-socialists to adapt to the increased freight load. Presumably, also the forthcoming war with its increased volume of cargo due to supply transports played a prominent role. In April 1945, it was destroyed in the battle of Vienna. The Ostbahnbrücke was reerected in 1946.
On this bridge, it can be a bit loud, again.
You should see a yellow sign with a black number. This 3-digit number is D6.
Stage 29 - Gasworks Runway 2
N48 11.202 E16 25.985
(left)
Another gasworks runway.
Look for a yellow sign (two duplicates) on a green door. Count ALL BLACK words on ONE of the signs to get D7.
Stage 30 - Freudenauer Bridge
N48° 10.898 E16° 27.043
(left)
Errected 1975, it spans the Danube canal very prominently as cable-stayed bridge and is the first eye-catcher for visitors to Vienna, which arrive to the city coming from the Airport.
Look through/over the fence and count the green letters in the first line of the white sign. Double this number to get S.
ATTENTION!
Between Stages 30 (Freudenauer Bridge) and 31 (Freudenauer Port Bridge) there is a long-term construction site on the left bank (until 2010). Therefore, there is no connection to the other side of the canal at this location.
Alternatives:
* for cyclists over Seitenhafenstrasse and Freudenauer Hauptstrasse to Stage 31.
* for pedestrians, the only possibility is to go back to Ostbahnbrücke to get to the right side (which is walkable without any problems)
Thanks to martin33 for this hint!
Stage 31 - Freudenauer Port Bridge
N48° 10.271 E16° 28.752
With the growing importance of the Viennese port, also this bridge gets increasing significance and gradually reaches its limits of capacity.
You should see four duct covers. All bear the same date (a year), which give the value for T.
Stage 32 - Cache
You find the cache at
N 48° (A+B1+B2+C1+C2+D1+C3+C4+E+D2+F+G+H+D3+I+J+K+L+M+N+O+B3+P+D4+Q+R+D5+D6+D7+S+T+7)
E 16° ((A+B1+B2+(C1*2)+C2+D1+C3+C4+E+(D2*3)+F+G+H+D3+I+J+(K*2)+L+M+(N*4)+P+Q+(R*4)+D5+(D6*7)+D7+S+(T*3)+57))
There is also an Excel-sheet for PDA-Cachers ;-)
And a gpx-file with the waypoints for all non-PMs.
Version 1.3
Change of stage 8 (10.07.2007)
Improved definition of Stage 27 (26.08.2007)
Construction work between 30 and 31 (17.06.2008)
Gloria Gaynor, October 1978!
GC13WPE Donaukanalbrücken DE->EN
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