ABSTRACT
The Dresden Elbe Valley (Germany), after being inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004, was transferred to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2006, and finally delisted in 2009. The World Heritage Committee took these decisions because of the construction of a bridge (Waldschlößchenbrücke) that was located in the centre of the World Heritage property and that would, according to the World Heritage Committee, destroy irreversibly the integrity and the outstanding universal value of the site. An alternative to the bridge, for example the construction of a tunnel, for improving the traffic needs and for saving the World Heritage status, was proposed. It was not accepted and, according to the official policy, not possible. This chapter explores the reasons for the site being removed from the World Heritage List and the role that misunderstandings between the interested parties played in the complex decision process.
