Dresden - Germany

"Dresden is the capital city of the German Federal Free State of Saxony. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe.
Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was completely destroyed by the controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of World War II. The impact of the bombing, 40 years in the German Democratic Republic and contemporary city development have all completely changed the face of the city. Since German reunification in 1990, Dresden has re-emerged as a cultural, political and economic centre in the eastern part of Germany.

The Dresden Elbe Valley is a World Heritage Site in Dresden. 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.

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."

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee in July 2008 has decided to retain the Elbe Valley on the World Heritage List in the hope that the building of the four-lane bridge across the valley will be stopped and the integrity of the landscape will be restored. In the event that the construction of the bridge was not stopped and damage reversed, the property would be deleted from the World Heritage List in 2009." - in: wikipedia