[1] The viaduct is Europe's longest limestone bridge, and its construction was one of the earliest significant events in the history of rail transport in Germany.

The viaduct was built by the Royal Westphalian Railway Company, and was inaugurated on 21 July 1853 by King Frederick William IV.

The stakes were correspondingly high: even the first Allied bombing raid of 26 November 1944 resulted in the greatest air battle of World War II.

In July 2009, after being displayed for many years as a monument in Adenauerstraße, Altenbeken, they were integrated into the viaduct's newly constructed viewing platform.

Celebrities such as Urban Priol, Hennes Bender, Götz Alsmann, Ingo Oschmann or Guildo Horn have complemented the Viaduktfeste with cultural events.