The Old Binger Rhine Crane is a wooden tower crane in Bingen am Rhein with its current, previously renewed structure dating from around 1787. The uncovered foundation stone indicates the year of construction as 1487.
The harbor crane with a rotating boom and dome roof stands next to the former customs administration on the former harbor site.
The crane house (side length approx. 7 m, height of the roof edge approx. 6 m) is a half-timbered construction made of oak beams, and the outer walls consist of wooden cladding. The rotating, bell-shaped crane dome is covered with slate and topped with a tower ball. The boom consists of a solid oak beam along with support beams and is clad with lead foil. A crane has been documented here as early as the 15th century. An inscription found in 2007 on a base stone indicates the date of the laying of the foundation stone as August 7, 1487 (St. Afra). It is said to have been built in just 78 days.
The wooden framework of the current crane has been dendrochronologically dated to 1785–87. After another renovation in 1819, the crane was decommissioned in the second half of the 19th century. The structure was preserved from demolition by the then-valid new monument protection law of 1907. Heavily damaged in World War II, the crane was restored starting in 1950. A comprehensive restoration was carried out in 2005. In 2007, a water basin with a connection to the Rhine was built in front of the crane.
The Old Crane
Well-used yet originally preserved, the old Bingen harbor crane. The old Rhine crane stands...
Categories
Opening hours
Monday: closedTuesday: closed
Wednesday: closed
Thursday: closed
Friday: closed
Saturday: closed
Sunday: 12:00 - 16:00
Address
Hafenstraße 5
55411
Bingen am Rhein
(DE)
Coordinates
Lat: 49.970100
Long: 7.902491
More information
Old served and yet preserved in its original state, the old Bingen harbor crane.
The old Rhine crane stands next to the former customs administration at the cultural bank of Bingen. A crane has been documented here as early as the 15th century. The current rotating and luffing crane was probably built around 1613 according to plans by the Aschaffenburg master builder Riedinger. After a renovation in 1819, the structure was preserved by the then new monument protection law of 1907 from demolition. Heavily damaged in World War II, the crane was restored from 1950 onwards and functionally restored between 2005 and 2007.
The crane is powered by human strength via two large wheels. The upper part of the dome with the load arm can be rotated using a large lever. Primarily, wine, salt, and grain were loaded here. For the latter two, Bingen had stacking rights. As part of the State Garden Show Bingen 2008, the crane was placed back by the construction of a small harbor basin.
Opening hours: Easter to the end of October - Sundays and public holidays 12-4 PM
Crane tours with crane demonstration each at 4:00 PM
Sunday, June 1, 2025, World Heritage Day
Sunday, July 6, 2025, Cultural Bank Festival
Sunday, August 10, 2025 Days of Industrial Culture Rhine-Main
Sunday, September 14, 2025, Monument Day, theme “Valuable: priceless or irreplaceable”
Crane openings and crane demonstrations are free of charge, no registration required.
The Old Bingen Rhine Crane is a wooden tower crane in Bingen am Rhein with the current, previously repeatedly renewed structure from around 1787. The uncovered foundation stone indicates the year of construction as 1487.
The harbor crane with a rotating luffing arm and dome roof stands next to the former customs administration on the former harbor site.
The crane house (side length approx. 7 m, height of roof edge approx. 6 m) is a half-timbered construction made of oak beams, and the outer walls consist of a wooden cladding. The rotating, bell-shaped crane dome is covered with slate and topped with a tower ball. The luffing arm consists of a solid oak beam along with support beams and is clad with lead foil. A crane has been documented here as early as the 15th century. An inscription found in 2007 on a base stone indicates the date of the laying of the foundation stone as August 7, 1487 (St. Afra). It is said to have been built in just 78 days.
The wooden structure of today's crane has been dendrochronologically dated to 1785–87. After another renovation in 1819, the crane was decommissioned in the second half of the 19th century. The structure was preserved from demolition by the then valid new monument protection law of 1907. Heavily damaged in World War II, the crane was restored from 1950 onwards. In 2005, a comprehensive restoration was carried out. In 2007, a water basin with a connection to the Rhine was built in front of the crane.
The harbor crane with a rotating luffing arm and dome roof stands next to the former customs administration on the former harbor site.
The crane house (side length approx. 7 m, height of roof edge approx. 6 m) is a half-timbered construction made of oak beams, and the outer walls consist of a wooden cladding. The rotating, bell-shaped crane dome is covered with slate and topped with a tower ball. The luffing arm consists of a solid oak beam along with support beams and is clad with lead foil. A crane has been documented here as early as the 15th century. An inscription found in 2007 on a base stone indicates the date of the laying of the foundation stone as August 7, 1487 (St. Afra). It is said to have been built in just 78 days.
The wooden structure of today's crane has been dendrochronologically dated to 1785–87. After another renovation in 1819, the crane was decommissioned in the second half of the 19th century. The structure was preserved from demolition by the then valid new monument protection law of 1907. Heavily damaged in World War II, the crane was restored from 1950 onwards. In 2005, a comprehensive restoration was carried out. In 2007, a water basin with a connection to the Rhine was built in front of the crane.