Dresden, part 1
I apologize for the delay in getting these Dresden posts up: dealing with computer network issues is a reason, not an excuse. But here is the first, with more to follow.
Dresden had been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. A few years ago, the transportation agency proposed to build a new bridge across the Elbe River, and UNESCO warned them that, if they persisted in constructing the bridge, their World Heritage designation would be revoked. In spite of opposition from the Dresden City Council, the local transportation agencies felt the bridge was required from a traffic circulation standpoint, and went ahead with the project, and UNESCO duly removed the WH designation, only the second removal since the program began in 1976. See articles here and here from UNESCO.
We had to see the infamous bridge construction for ourselves. Based on our inspection (tee hee - a walk along the outside of the construction site and a long thoughtful view with beer in hand from a sunny terrace immediately adjacent to the site), it’s hard for us non-UNESCO folks to understand the kerfluffle.
There’s plenty of development on both sides of the river by the bridge. Upstream and downstream, there are buildings as far as you can see before the river turns and is lost to view. You can just barely see the round domes of the Aldstadt from our viewing platform, which was about 100 feet above the river itself on a natural topographic terrace; from the river itself the Aldstadt is not visible. What’s the problem, then?
The WH designation was not for the city of Dresden, or the rebuilt Baroque Aldstadt, but for the cultural heritage of 18 km of the Elbe River valley. Naturally a modern bridge would interfere with the cultural criteria on which the designation had been based. UNESCO does not rule out a future re-listing under different criteria.
If you want to see it for yourself, take the #11 tram from the Hauptbahnhof toward Bühlau and get off at Waldschlösschen. The bridge construction is readily visible from the tram stop. Note the Waldschlösschen Brauhaus right across the street from the stop. You get a terrific view of the construction site from the terrace and you can drink the house brew while you inspect the site! I had Himbeer Bier, which is beer with raspberry syrup, tasted great if unusual. K testifies that the Weissbier was also excellent.