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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
River Elbe at Dresden, Germany
The
steamer company's base is the city of Dresden, famed for its
magnificent architecture but latterly more notorious for the almost
total obliteration of the city centre by Allied bombing raids near the
end of World War II. Many questioned why this beautiful city was
targeted when it was so far away from the western front and with
Germany increasingly likely to lose the war. The city was rebuilt
mainly in "socialist" style after the war, consistent with the city's
place in the German Democratic Republic, but the historic centre was
slowly rebuilt as funds allowed to replicate much of what was lost. The
renaissance of Dresden after many years of rebuilding was epitomised by
the very rapid reconstruction of the iconic Marienkirche, seen
overlooking the Terrassenufer quayside, left soon after completion in
2004, once Germany had been reunified in 1991.
The "Blaues Wunder" or Blue Wonder Bridge at Loschwitz,
now a suburb of Dresden,is a remarkable survivor of the early years
of steel bridge-building, and is the destination for short cruises
from the city centre. Slightly longer cruises take tourists to Pillnitz
Castle
Paddlers cross paths off Prossen. With so many paddlers in service
it is possible to get good photographs of two steamers sailing in
close proximity
both from aboard ship or from the riverbank.
The village of Kurort Rathen sits amidst some spectacular scenery.
Some passengers have just disembarked. Others await a paddler going
upstream, and one can just be seen in the far distance.
Another view of Kurort Rathen. pretty villages and small towns
line the riverbanks to complement the fine scenery.
Bad Schandau railway station is on the opposite bank to the pretty
little town of Bad Schandau. Although there is a bridge, it is a
very long walk for foot passengers, so there is a passenger ferry
which shuttles across and calls at the blue landing stage.
The
paddle steamers no longer routinely run south of Bad Schandau through
so-called "Saxon Switzerland" and across the border into "Bohemian
Switzerland" as an economy measure. Only one service latterly went to
the Czech town of Decin, but this day trip took passengers through the
most spectacular part of the river. Special charters are organised to
visit Decin and, on occasion, Litomerice. Independent boat owners do
continue to serve Saxon Switzerland.
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Elbe
- Dresden