The Elbe Valley ? UNESCO World Heritage Area by Kakapo2
-Dresden is located in the Elbe valley. A 40 km long and 20 km wide stretch of this valley ? between Pirna and Meißen - is called Dresdner Elbtal (Dresden?s Elbe Valley). This area got World Hertitage status by UNESCO in 2003. About 800 sites carry this title worldwide and about 30 in Germany. (The number is constantly changing, so do not challenge me on it?)
The World Heritage status honours the unique ensemble of the city?s splendid architecture, its rich culture and the mostly natural landscape along the river. This includes the Baroque buildings, the art collections, the Elbe cruises, the vineyards of the Elbe valley, the Elbschlösser (castles near the city centre), Schloss Pillnitz, historic villas, restored villages and historic industrial sites.
Surely the committee recognised the huge efforts made after the total destruction of the city in the last weeks of World War II.
The World Heritage Area covers 19.3 square kilometres, and 18 kilometres of the Elbe Valley from Söbringen to Übigau, and is 500 metres to 3 kilometres wide.
