Dresden Elbe Valley
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| Dresden Elbe Valley* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
 |
|
| State Party |  Germany |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv, v |
| Reference | 1156 |
| Region† | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2004 (28th Session) |
| Endangered | 2006- |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO. |
|
The Dresden Elbe Valley is a World Heritage Site in Dresden, Germany. The valley, extending for some 20 kilometres through the city of Dresden, is one of two cultural landscapes along the Central European river Elbe. The value of this landscape lies in the fact that it is part of the urban area as well as part of the natural river banks and slopes.
Famous parts of the Elbe Valley are Pillnitz with its castle and old village as well as the village of Loschwitz, technical building like the bridge Blue Wonder, the Standseilbahn Dresden or the Schwebebahn Dresden and the historic center with the famous buildings of Brühl's Terrace, Semperoper and Katholische Hofkirche (Roman Catholic Church of the former court). Parts of the area like Blasewitz are historic suburbs of the city while there are also industrial parts included.
In 2006, UNESCO World Heritage Committee placed the site on its list of World Heritage Sites in danger and threatens to remove the Dresden Elbe Valley from the World Heritage List. Describing the committee's decision, the World Heritage Site reported that "plans to build a bridge across the Elbe would have such a serious impact on the integrity of property's landscape that it may no longer deserve to be on the World Heritage List. It therefore decided to inscribe Dresden Elbe Valley on the List of World Heritage in Danger "with a view to also consider, in a prudent manner, delisting the site from the World Heritage List in 2007 if the plans are carried through."[1]
Though the bridge was approved in a referendum in 2005 the city council decided on 20th July 2006 to stop the invitation to bid on contracts to build the bridge. After several court decisions the city was forced to begin building the bridge at the end of 2007 until further court hearings are held in 2008. The status of the valley on UNESCO's World Heritage List will be reviewed by the World Heritage Committee in July 2008.
[edit] References
- ^ "World Heritage Committee threatens to remove Dresden Elbe Valley (Germany) from World Heritage List" (July 2006).
[edit] External links
