The Mittlere Brücke (middle bridge) was the first bridge over the Rhine anywhere when it was built in 1226, and provided a useful route for pilgrims from Germany heading to Rome. Back then, only half was of stone. The southern half, crossing the deepest and fastest part of the channel, was wooden. It remained that way until 1903, and even supported a line of the earliest trams. The wholly stone replacement was completed in 1905, and today is a centrepiece of the beautiful old city.