"City glasses" — Attraction in Amberg

Perched gracefully over the Vils River, the Stadtbrille—literally “City Glasses”—is a late-medieval water gate and part of Amberg’s historic city fortifications. Constructed between the late 14th and early 15th century (first recorded in 1454 as the “passage over the Vils”), it spans about 46 m across the river.

What makes it magical is its two semicircular arches, which—paired with their bright reflections in the Vils—form the appearance of giant spectacles hovering on the water. It connects the former Electoral Palace (Kurfürstliches Schloss) on one bank with the old armory (“Zeughaus”) on the other.

In the late 1500s, additional towers and stacked upper floors were built by court architect Hans Hauck. These were removed in 1698, giving the Stadtbrille its current elegant silhouette.

Uniquely, this water gate is considered the “fifth city gate”, complementing the city’s wall gates. A third central arch—long forgotten—was rediscovered and reopened in 1996 during restoration efforts.

A photogenic gem, especially at night when illuminated—perfect for that iconic “glasses” reflection shot alongside...

Wonderful stone old bridge crossing the river. Right by the cathedral so nice to walk along the river and admire its...

Die wohl sehenswerteste Brücke in Amberg ist die volkstümlich genannte Stadtbrille. Ein Wassertorbau mit 46 Metern Länge, wurde 1454 erstmals erwähnt und überbrückt die Vils. Mehrere Umbauten erfolgten bis zum Jahr 1698. Seitdem hat die Brücke ihr aktuelles Aussehen. Ein klasse Fotomotiv und sicher ein Pflichtprogramm bei einem...