Burning Bridges

In the north end of the English Gardens, just before you reach the second ring road, is a pedestrian bridge over the Isar River. The Saint Emmeram Bridge is in an amazing setting, with what seems like endless parkland and paths in either direction; and the bridge itself is architecturally beautiful – sort of one with its surroundings. The bridge is loved by locals and visitors. Apparently, not everyone thought so as it was torched in 2002, completely destroyed, and then rebuilt and reopened around 2004. The act of arson was viewed as a local tragedy and made many of the local newspapers’ front pages. You can read more about it here. As for the saint, Emmeram was a Bishop from the Bordeaux region of France, who became a missionary in Bavaria.