Minden is famous for its water bridge, one of the most unusual structures in Germany. Being 370 meters long, it's the second longest brigde in Europe after the bridge in Magdeburg. On the bridge flows the Mittellandkanal while the Weser river flows beneath. Construction of the old bridge begun in 1906 and was completed in 1914. In 1998 a new, wider bridge was opened because the old one was too shallow (3 meters) for modern barges.
The bridge was blown up by retreating Germans on April 4, 1945. Two main spans over the Weser river were blown up. As a result, the bridge completely crashed and blocked the river, which rose to 2 meters. Reconstruction of the bridge began in May 1947 and ended in February 1949.
Nearby is the gateway that connects the Weser river and Mittellandkanal, so this is something like water crossroads.
The bridge can be reached from the downtown along the waterfront. There's one more sight near the river - the only working floating mill grinder of 18th century.
During World War II, underground factories were built around Minden. Slave labourers from a nearby concentration camp were forced to produce weapons and other war materials. After the war the machinery was removed by American troops and the entrances were sealed.
In the downtown everything is mixed up. Old buildings alternate with new ones, and sometimes this combination is awful. The same I've seen in Osnabrück and Göttingen, but in Minden the situation is worst. E.g. an awful shopping center built around a 1,000-year-old cathedral.
Creation of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia led to Minden losing its position as a regional capital to Detmold. Urban renewal was carried out in the 1970s, with new structures replacing buildings that were deemed dilapidated. Removal of timbered houses as part of this renewal was later regretted. The new Town Hall extension blocked the scenic view of the cathedral from the arches of the old Town Hall. A controversial 2006 resolution by the town council proposed the demolition of the Town Hall extensions, a new shopping mall and restoration of the view toward the cathedral. However, in a referendum, a 57% majority opposed this plan! Nevertheless the town developed a master plan for the development of the town center in 2009 which was passed by the town council.
The old town is almost invisible. Perhaps local authorities think differently, but we haven't found it. There are several houses of Weser Renaissance and the Rittershtrasse Street with half-timbered houses. Some houses are very beautiful, but you need to look for them all over the downtown. Terrible new buildings are everywhere, even on the central square. I liked the waterfront much more than the "old town."
Быстрее всего через Rotenburg, всего одна пересадка. Можно и другими путями, там много вариантов.
Минден находится в другой области, но в него можно приехать по региональному билету Нижней Саксонии (Niedersachsenticket). Действует один день, стоит для одного 22 евро, для двоих 26 евро и тд. Покупается в любом автомате на вокзале.
2015-09-16 09:54
# 3 Вера
Спасибо,вам, огромное! Я таких мостов ни разу не видела и о НИХ не слышала, хотя и живу в Германии. Взяла себе на з а м е т к у!!!
2016-01-01 21:35
# 4 Юлия
Мельница, кстати, не оригинальной постройки - Она реконструирована по рисункам в 1998 году.
А так спасибо большое за рассказ! Поогди нам составить маршрут =)
2016-05-03 17:43
# 5 № 05 2016 надежда
Мой папа был узником коцлагера в г Минден с июня 1942 помай 1945 года Их освободили американцы 13 мая Никто не знал оБ этом пагере хотя война закончмилась 9 мая . Хотелось бы знать о место нахождении лагеря или оно стёрто с лица земли .
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