Three-arch bridge

The three-arch bridge in Olfen is a special eye-catcher. On the one hand, it offers a magnificent view over the Stever and its meadows, on the other hand, it can be described as a technical masterpiece of its time. The latter becomes clear as soon as you set eyes on the monument dating from 1894: With three graceful round arches made of Ruhr sandstone, it connects the two banks over almost 50 metres. The bridge over the Stever is one of three former canal bridges that used to carry the Dortmund-Ems Canal over the Stever, the Lippe and the Oststraße in the Olfen area. As one of Olfen's historical landmarks, it is a popular destination for walkers, hikers and cyclists following in the footsteps of the "Alte Fahrt". Moreover, the bridge can only be reached and crossed on foot or by bicycle.
The three-arch bridge

The three-arch bridge lies along Olfen's "Alter Fahrt". This refers to a disused section of the Dortmund-Ems Canal. The section of the canal, which is around nine kilometres long and stretches from Datteln to Olfen, was the original canal bed from 1899 to 1929. However, this had to be relocated due to the increased volume of water traffic, as it was not possible to extend it at all points. From Datteln, a new canal route was built from 1929 to 1937 in the direction of Lüdinghausen. After completion of the Neue Fahrt, the old section was still in use for a while as an alternative branch, but was finally renaturalised and is now very popular with cyclists and walkers with its historical sights (harbour basin, Steverauen, three-arch bridge, crooked bridge and canal bridge "Alte Fahrt").