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World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Travel: Sorry, Dresden

January 7, 2008 at 12:00 PM | 0 Comments

When is a bridge a divider, not a uniter? When the bridge, crossing the Elbe River and different neighborhoods of Dresden, Germany, could jeopardize the city's World Heritage recognition and damage World War II-era trees and parks.

The city's UNESCO-granted status is related not only to its historic baroque architecture and parkland design, but also to the damage inflicted during the Allied bombing of Dresden. (Read Slaughterhouse-Five if you don't know what we mean.)

A city referendum approved the bridge, which is intended to make cross-city car travel easier, but UNESCO's sudden throwing in of its lot with the bridge opponents means the structure will either have to be redesigned or that protesters sitting in trees face a very long, cold fall.

Related Stories:
· Proposal to Better Unite City Leaves Dresden Divided [NYT]
· Slaughterhouse Jive [Jaunted]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: bonnaventura]