Weser Skywalk
The Weser Skywalk is a galvanized steel viewing platform built in 2011 on the easternmost of the seven Hanoverian cliffs ( Weser sandstone ), which are located near the triangle North Rhine-Westphalia - Lower Saxony - Hesse between the villages of Würgassen and Bad Karlshafen up to 80 m above the Weser rise.
Possibility of viewing
The most easterly cliff previously had a natural viewing platform, from which there is a view of the Reinhardswald immediately southeast on the other side of the Weser , the neighboring manufacture and Bad Karlshafen. The Skywalk, which is accessible at all times, protrudes a good 4 m over the edge of the cliff. This gives the visitor an even better view of the Upper Weser Valley , which extends upstream to Bad Karlshafen and downstream to the Weser bridge at the former Würgassen nuclear power plant . On the other bank you can also see Herstelle with its village church. Various routes lead up from Bad Karlshafen ( cliff path , challenging) or Würgassen ( wooden path , educational path on the subject). The Solling Railway had a station in Würgassen, the track of which runs below the cliffs and parallel to the Weser. The Bad Karlshafen stop is now the closest for rail travel.
Admission is not charged.
history
The extraordinarily diverse nature and landscape in the Höxter district should be made accessible to those seeking relaxation as part of a project funded with EU, state and district funds. With the idea of setting up a skywalk as a regional specialty, the sandstone rocks of the Hanoverian cliffs were to be highlighted in their uniqueness and made tangible.
The fundamental feasibility and implementation of such a project was initially to be regarded as problematic from a nature conservation perspective, but also from a structural engineering perspective. In addition to the compatibility study necessary for the natural balance, the rock structure for the possible static load capacity had to be checked step by step with extensive geological reports.
With the feasibility result, the plans were presented to the public, which initially aroused opposition from part of the local population. In particular, it was nature conservation arguments, but also cost considerations, which various groups brought into the discussion through the media. But through a lot of persuasion and the consistent adherence to this idea by the former district administrator Hubertus Backhaus and his successor in office Friedhelm Spieker as well as the majority of the political bodies at district and community level, the construction of the skywalk was decided in spring 2010.
The preparatory work began in October 2010 and the platform assembly, which was planned for December 2010, in February 2011. The construction work ended in March 2011. The inauguration and release for the public took place on May 21, 2011.
Design of the skywalk
When planning the structure, the geotechnical rock-mechanical conditions with the resulting recommendations and constructive specifications of the geologists and engineers involved had to be taken into account. The foundation of the Skywalk steel construction, assembled on site using heavy-duty cranes, was therefore to be carried out with a kind of pile grid system consisting of tension and compression piles pressed into the rock.
The planning of the building design, also with regard to the static specifications of the commissioned engineering office and the need to fit the building into the rocky landscape and nature, was carried out by the Höxter district. The drafts of the then head of the planning and landscape department, Dipl.-Ing. Heinrich Kemper taken into account. He was also the initiator of the project. Due to the existing rock formation, a construction in two levels was chosen. Both levels are mounted on gratings as a floor covering. These are galvanized steel frame constructions that were mounted on a bent main girder that follows the shape of the terrain.
Access to the lower main platform is from the 5 m higher area via stairs, initially to the upper level, which offers the first overview of the Weser Valley. The lower main platform is structured in such a way that several visitors have a clear view in different directions of the Weser Valley at the same time.
To integrate the building into the landscape in a natural way, the construction was given a gray-brown paint.
Trivia
The touristic importance is underlined by a souvenir medal machine. There are also several love locks on the railing , the keys of which must have been thrown in the direction of the river, the creation of which itself has to do with a kiss .
See also
Skywalk (overview of different viewpoints worldwide, more or less spectacular)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Article Clearly no to the Skywalk ( memento from September 6, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ), from March 9, 2010, on nw-news.de
- ↑ Article Construction work resumed ( Memento from September 7, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ), from February 14, 2011, on nw-news.de
- ↑ Article Construction work over the abyss ( Memento from September 6, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ), from February 17, 2011, on nw-news.de
- ↑ Weser-Skywalk , on wuergassen.de
- ↑ https://www.quetschmuenzen.de/nordrhein-westfalen/beverungen.html
Web links
- Adventure area Weser-Skywalk and Hannoversche Klippen near Würgassen (information and short film), on erlesene-natur.de
- Hanoverian cliffs with information on the Skywalk, at wikivoyage.org
Coordinates: 51 ° 38 '59.8 " N , 9 ° 26' 0.3" E