Leipzig Opens a Scenic Trail on a Historic Viaduct

A new recreational area has been created on a historic viaduct in Leipzig. Where trains once ran, people can now stroll, linger, and experience eastern Leipzig from a new perspective, according to the city. This Friday, Leipzig’s Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) plans to officially open the facility.

58 Trees Hoisted onto the Höhenweg with a Crane

Among other things, 58 trees were planted on the Höhenweg. To do so, they were first hoisted onto the viaduct with a crane and then planted in specially designed pots. Together with around 6,500 perennials and grasses, 90 shrubs, as well as lighting and benches, the former railway facility in eastern Leipzig has been transformed into a path for strolling. 

As part of the construction of the City Tunnel and the realignment of the regional transit network in and around Leipzig, Deutsche Bahn decommissioned a section of the eastern railway arc. In 2017, at the suggestion of citizens, the city developed the “Parkbogen Ost” master plan, which set out the goal of transforming former railway facilities into a green recreational corridor. First, the historic Sellerhäuser Viaduct was renovated by 2021.

Then, the vision of an eight-kilometer-long corridor featuring walking and biking paths as well as recreational areas was brought to life. The centerpiece of this green corridor is the decommissioned eastern S-Bahn curve—known as the Sellerhäuser Bogen—which serves as a connecting element between several neighborhoods in eastern Leipzig.