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Loschwitz Bridge (') is a 
Construction took two years and was completed in 1893 at a cost of 2.25 million Goldmarks (equivalent to million €) and named ' in honor of King 
The surrounding area of of the Elbe meadows was declared a cultural
cantilever
A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is supported at only one end. Typically it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached. Like other structural elements, a canti ...
truss bridge over the river Elbe
The Elbe (; cs, Labe ; nds, Ilv or ''Elv''; Upper and dsb, Łobjo) is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Giant Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia (western half of the Czech Repu ...
in Dresden
Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...
the capital of Saxony
Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
in Germany. It connects the city districts of Blasewitz and Loschwitz
Loschwitz is a borough ('' Stadtbezirk'') of Dresden, Germany, incorporated in 1921. It consists of ten quarters (''Stadtteile''):
Loschwitz is a villa quarter located at the slopes north of the Elbe river. At the top of the hillside is the quar ...
, two affluent residential areas, which around 1900 were amongst the most expensive in Europe. It is located close to Standseilbahn Dresden
The Dresden Funicular Railway (german: Standseilbahn Dresden) is a funicular in Dresden, Germany, connecting the districts of Loschwitz, near the "Blue Wonder" bridge, and Weisser Hirsch.
The railway is one of two funicular railways in Dresden, t ...
funicular railway and the world's oldest suspension railway Schwebebahn Dresden
The Dresden Suspension Railway (german: Schwebebahn Dresden) is a suspended funicular located in Dresden, Germany, and connects the districts of Loschwitz and Oberloschwitz (Rochwitz side). It is one of the oldest suspension railways, having ...
, as well as near the Dresden TV tower
The Fernsehturm Dresden-Wachwitz is a TV tower in Dresden, Germany. It is situated on the ''Wachwitzer Elbhöhen'' and serves as a transmitting tower for television and radio broadcasts. Due to its visibility over large distances and its unusual f ...
. The bridge is colloquially referred to as ''Blaues Wunder'' ("Blue Wonder"). This common name purportedly referred to the bridge's original blue colour and being seen as a technological miracle at the time; it is also understood to carry the cynical connotation referencing the German idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, ...
' meaning "to experience an unpleasant surprise" (literally: "to experience a blue wonder"), reflecting the skeptical view of contemporary commentators. There is also a bridge in Wolgast
Wolgast (; csb, Wòłogòszcz) is a town in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the bank of the river (or strait) Peenestrom, vis-a-vis the island of Usedom on the Baltic coast that can be ...
known as ''Blaues Wunder''.
Construction took two years and was completed in 1893 at a cost of 2.25 million Goldmarks (equivalent to million €) and named ' in honor of King Albert of Saxony
en, Frederick Augustus Albert Anthony Ferdinand Joseph Charles Maria Baptist Nepomuk William Xavier George Fidelis
, image = Albert of Saxony by Nicola Perscheid c1900.jpg
, image_size =
, caption = Photograph by Nicola Persch ...
. In the 19th century, a bridge of this length without supporting river piers was considered a technological masterpiece. Today the technology is less miraculous, but the bridge is a much-loved symbol of the city.
The original bridge toll ended during the hyperinflation of 1923. Towards the end of World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, an SS unit attempted to destroy the bridge, but this was prevented when two people cut the detonator wires. Preserved in its original construction, the advanced age of the structure in recent years has led to some traffic limits. Until the opening of the '' Waldschlösschenbrücke'' on 26 August 2013, it was the only Elbe crossing east of the city centre.
The surrounding area of of the Elbe meadows was declared a cultural World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
by the UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
in 2004, but lost the title in 2009 following the construction of the ', meant to relieve congestion on the ''Blue Wonder''.
See also
* List of bridges in GermanyReferences
External links
* * {{Authority control Cantilever bridges Bridges completed in 1893 Buildings and structures in Dresden Tourist attractions in Dresden Road bridges in Germany Former toll bridges in Germany