Hängebrücke über die Irreler Wasserfälle

A 110-meter-long suspension bridge swings in a gentle arc over the rapids of the Prüm between Irrel and Prümzurlay, since named "Irreler Wasserfälle". Its cables are held by pylons on both banks, and it hovers 16 meters above the valley. The unusual bridge is a consequence of the flood disaster in July 2021, when the water masses surged through the narrow valley with unimaginable force, eroding the banks, causing landslides, and destroying the iconic wooden bridge that had spanned the Prüm several meters upstream until then. From the suspension bridge, there is a wide view of the valley that has since become wider and more open, where steep riverbanks, uprooted trees, rubble, sand, and driftwood will long tell the tale of the events of the flood night. This special place has changed, but its fascination has not diminished.

From the covered wooden bridge, a piece has been preserved on the rocky base that formed the foundation. From the small terrace, one looks over the river to the opposite bank, where no traces of the bridge and paths can be seen anymore. Informative signs at the old and the new bridge show that the forces of nature have repeatedly changed the landscape here – sometimes with brutal force, sometimes gently and steadily.

Among the hiking routes that intersect at the suspension bridge, the approximately 6-kilometer-long “Teuflische Acht” is rightly particularly popular. The route marked in yellow - a figure eight with devil horn shapes - connects the Irreler Wasserfälle with the famous Teufelsschlucht in the forest high above the valley. Also, for people with mobility impairments, there is a hiking offer at the Irreler Wasserfälle: A specially designed 4.5-kilometer route runs on both sides of the Prüm and across the bridge. It is also suitable for wheelchair users with a transport device that can be borrowed from the Naturparkzentrum Teufelsschlucht.

Cyclists traveling in the Prümtal have direct access to the bridge and can start tours from here. The bridge, designed to be barrier-free, is 1.40 meters wide, and the ground consists of a close-mesh grid floor. Does the suspension bridge sway when you cross it? If you walk at a steady pace, it hardly swings, but the more people there are on it, the stronger the swing can become – give it a try!