Agreement reached with the support group – protection of the World Heritage Site remains guaranteed
Darmstadt. Following the completion of the renovation work on Olbrichweg, the original traffic situation has been restored. At a joint on-site meeting last Friday, Head of Transport Paul Georg Wandrey, representatives of the Förderkreis Hochzeitsturm e. V. , and the Mobility and Civil Engineering Office on a pragmatic solution for future access to the Wedding Tower.
The Friends Association will in future be special permits authorized members temporary access . This will ensure the continued operation of the Wedding Tower, including souvenir sales, without protection of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mathildenhöhe compromising
“Returning to the original state presented a challenge for the Friends Association – especially regarding the visibility of its voluntary work surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mathildenhöhe,” explained Paul Georg Wandrey, Head of Transport and Registrar. “Together, we found ways to reconcile the necessary accessibility of the Wedding Tower with the protection of the World Heritage Site.”
During the approximately three-year construction period of the east extension to Alice Hospital, Olbrichweg was used as a construction access road. Following completion of the work, the road was closed to motorized traffic again at the end of August and has since been pedestrians and cyclists .
Background: Förderkreis Hochzeitsturm e. V. (Association for the Promotion of the Wedding Tower).
The Wedding Tower Association was founded in 1982 to preserve and revitalize Darmstadt's landmark. Since 1986, the non-profit organization has operated the publicly accessible areas of the tower based on a usage agreement with the city. This includes operating the elevator, selling souvenirs , and providing the wedding room on the fifth floor for civil ceremonies.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/dk)
