Transcripts For DW Bohemian Switzerland By Rail 20240712

We began our trip to bohemia in the main Railway Station of dresden in eastern germany. Up until the end of the 1900 century the station was called burma siobhan hall for bohemian station and the line was the saxon bohemian state railway. Today the electrified mainline between dresden and it seemed put moakley in the Czech Republic is called the elba valley railway. Industrialization and burgeoning tourism saw the amount of traffic increase so rapidly that an expansion of the Railway Station became essential. In 898 the bohemian Railway Station was renamed to dresden how bahnhof or central station. Which remains to this day. The local Railway Service taking passengers to the border with the Czech Republic runs about every 15 minutes and connects dressed in with the saxon and bohemian switzerland regions. Its a popular Railway Route not just due to the charmingly diverse natural landscape by the river elbe. Its frequent and fast connection to the Sandstone Mountains make it a truly convenient alternative to the car. The 1st stage of our journey took us from dressed into bud chandelle near the czech border we then switched to a railway that runs on non mainline tracks and connects to adjacent National Parks saxon switzerland on the german side and bohemian switzerland on the czech side our final destination was to chane in the Czech Republic located just a 20 minute train journey from the german border. Works as a tour guide and has spent years studying the history of bohemia including its Railway Heritage. Shes acquired expert knowledge on the military geo political and economic developments that were key to the construction and operation of the train line which runs through the alba valley. Though the interesting lead the 1st row is here were built to transport salt. In the stands outside it and over time the coal trade grew to be more significant emotion. Than bohemia was a world power when it came to deposits of both legs night and but human us. Call for all men if coal mining saw the start of an economic boom for the entire region one that also had an impact on its railway infrastructure. But shunned out in saxony just a few kilometers from the border to what is now the Czech Republic its one of many towns and villages in the region that flourished thanks to their location on the elba Railway Route and continue to do so. With the Railway Connection the small spot town is also a popular base for hiking trips through the albums Sandstone Mountains. Half a 1000000 visitors use the station here every year which after extensive investments was officially designated a National Park station in 2012. 2 years later across the border National Park railway was set up a joint venture operated by the National Rail companies of the Czech Republic and germany. It runs every 2 hours connecting the respective National Parks and shortening the journey to an array of panoramic Vantage Points and hiking trails. From the railway takes passengers across the border and into the czech part of bush in switzerland. We changed trains in the town of rome book and set off on the next leg of our journey following the picturesque route all the way to did. You you know when the cross border National Park Railway Project was inaugurated in 2014 it saved the then partially discontinued line here from complete closure. These tracks were originally laid primarily to transport bra materials but most of the small mines and factories lining the route were not able to survive after the communist regimes in east germany and in czechoslovakia ended in 1989. They fell victim to free Market Forces and competition with big energy corporations. These days its cross border tourism that the region and the Railway Companies are cleaning their hopes on. The majestic infrastructure of the railway line along the border between germany and what was then the austrian empire. Shows how important the route was in the early 20th century for example this 190 metre long viaduct in the lame off completed in 1004. Sitting on stone pillars fashioned from bohemian granite the solid steel bridge towers 34 meters above the village mosque or is even its river. At 1st glance northern bohemia appears in conspicuous loci perhaps even behind the times but this is a region with a fascinating history. Prosperity and abundant Natural Resources more and devastation persecution and displacement as well as political and economic rebirth all belong to the story of this region. As does its nature and the lasting impression it made on artists who came here. I. German romantic painter caspar davita flayed place drew inspiration for many of his melancholy paintings from his hikes through the rocky gorges of saxony and bohemia. And danish author hunts castello undoes and wove the dreamlike atmosphere of bohemian switzerland into the tales he wrote. For National Park manager tomas sell off the cabinets gorge alongside the come in its a stream is more labor of love than professional duty. This litters to the bizarre sandstone formations might daydream about bohemian folklore and legends but some of struggles against real adversaries environmental destruction and ignorance. Theyre in their notes and are there was this. Its this defense that will him in switzerland National Park was opened weve seen the return of a number of species theres the Peregrine Falcon and also a Reintroduction Program for the Atlantic Salmon in the common its a river a little still more recently have been returning and we have lynxes incident the cold hard knocks or. So this place is more than something for tourists to see and its an interesting section of nature and he was lying through his dish a lot. This is also part of bohemia the railway line along the enchanting sandstone cliffs of the alba valley is among the busiest transit routes in europe and an increasing source of irritation for residents freight trains running through here on the route between Eastern Europe and the major ports of northern germany are particularly loud and have repeatedly prompted protests. A new high speed rail link away from the album valley is set to relieve the Noise Pollution the root passes through a 27 kilometer long tunnel through the ask of alga. The plans envisage increasing capacity for International Freight traffic along the new line. Furthermore the journey time for passenger trains between dresden and proc would be cut from the present 2 hours and 15 minutes to under one hour. But that would come at a price passengers would see much less of the stunning natural scenery of bohemian switzerland on the route. A. The belvedere Vantage Point is located in the village of laps gusts around in the heart of the National Park the small stone theater stage on the plateau was created in the 18th century and was initially only open to the aristocracy. Today the view from a height of 130 metres can be enjoyed by all the hikers and other visitors from around the world. Some say it reminds them of their childhood model railway. The National Park railway is a convenient link between the various natural attractions and as an environmentally friendly form of transportation it helps to preserve the local flora and fauna at home and the 80 square kilometer National Park. But National Park railway has one big advantage and instead of having to do a round trip for another bikers can take the train to a particular location and then make only the return journey on foot or with other means of transportation. But anyone who wants to get a closer look at the bizarre and beautiful rock formations that adorn bohemian switzerland has to go on foot. Only those who master the 7 kilometer long hike to the top get to take in this scenery. These sandstone cliffs have served as a backdrop for fantasy movies like the chronicles of narnia. Even the view from halfway up makes the. Venue is track worthwhile. But the actual destination of foremost hikers is what has become the stone symbol of bohemian switzerland the pressure. Measuring 16 meters high and over 26 meters wide its the largest natural sandstone arch in europe making it one of the most memorable natural monuments of the elba Sandstone Mountain range. The restaurant right next to the arch was opened in 826 and is a popular attraction in its own right especially for those keen to recharge their batteries with hearty local cooking and the famous bohemian beer. Visitors have to make sure they leave enough time for the 360 meter descend before sundown. Once back down in the valley of course the National Park railway provides a relaxing homeward journey. Room block a small town in the ted steve region of northern bohemia. The local station is served by both the National Park railway and trains from other Regional Networks the latter are mostly used by commuters on their way to and from ditching 50 kilometers away. Some of the trains running here are practically vintage models like ivanka a reconstructed diesel locomotive dating from 1969 now powered by a modern engine. In. The region around rome book has a long industrial heritage. Both coal mining and textile production were key to the growing economy in the 1900 century joined later by glass blowers cutlery makers industrial spice mills and engine makers all of them depended on the railway for transporting their products. By the mid 19th century trains had become part of the landscape in northern bohemia originally run by an Austrian Railway the roots were taken over by the newly founded czechoslovakia and state railway in 1918 following the creation of the country after world war one. This single track non electrified line runs through the bohemian part of the cross border to say share region. Our next stop is the remote station of yet love on. The tiny station is surrounded by forests and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It was built in 1969 as a junction connecting 2 major Regional Railway lines leading to van stalled. And to change. Feed. I as the ivanka continued her journey we stayed behind to take a look around this unusual station at the foot of the yet lava the mountain that gave the stop its name. Time and history have clearly taken their toll on the station building but nobody here seems bothered by such superficial considerations the station is a convenient starting point for walking tours of the surrounding area and as a Meeting Place for local hunters. Some passengers even come specially to savor the hearty traditional food served up here but im for. What. We mainly get campers and tourists. But people from the surrounding villages also make the train journey here because of our food. Were talking as weve served guests coming from as far away as leto marriage and see prague and even moravia the maps of. The walking so that we get home style fare roast duck dumplings filled with meat that roast pork wild game. All freshly prepared and station restaurant. How this looks a lot. Its hard to imagine anyone rushing through a meal here at yet of a station where time seems to pass at a slower pace. Originally there was just a solitary foresters house in the entire region around the yell of a mountain eventually joined by a handful of hamlets in the early 20th century people from the cities began discovering the region as a welcome retreat. Since then the tiny station has served as a common area insiders tips for a brief stopover and as a base for hiking tracks and an oasis of tranquility before returning to the hustle and bustle of life in the city. We next headed southwest travelling around 20 kilometers through the ditch district. In addition to tourists the Regional Railway also conveys schoolchildren and commuters to towns in the area. Among them as the town of the chain an important industrial and administrative center. Rural bohemia meanwhile is suffering from the impact of young people leaving to try their luck in the cities. The exodus has left behind dying villages and a shrinking infrastructure. Both sides of the border are intensifying cooperation to improve prospects across rural bohemia and at least slow down the drain of talent. Ditching a town known for its economic stability and its history dating back over 1000 years standing over the confluence of the elba and the river is the famous palace serving 1st as a residence for bohemian royalty then as a military fortress and today as a museum. Boasting an Inland Harbor by the elba highway connection and several stations along the dresden to prague line the chain is a major transportation hub the railway is one of the most important in europe and. We arrived at to change central station. Check state railways or day is to this day one of the biggest employers in the town with its 50000. 00 plus residence. Tourism is another pillar of the local economy. The palace with its cliff top location the flood plains lining the banks of the elbe and the sandstone cliffs make the area a popular destination for visitors including many from just across the border to germany. To change Railway Heritage also attracts its fair share of tourists. The past years the stain on enveloping a 279 metres long railway tunnel has always been a much loved photo motif. Its name means shepherds rock from the german she found itself a mispronunciation of sheaf of ont or crooked wall in the 19th century it was a popular Vantage Point but when the elder valley lined opened in 800 51. 00 only the wealthy could afford to take the train. Back then didnt take trains on a regular basis at that time no one would have dreamed of taking the train every day monday. But doing it once or twice a year was an option for people from rural areas as well or at least for the wealthier ones and a lot of people were very curious at the beginning this led to a boom in train travel which then subsided somewhat relieved as hes done this and up. In the chain the importance of the railway grew year by year it played a particularly decisive role for armies during the various military conflicts that beset the region including during the 2nd world war bohemia had been incorporated into the german empire shortly before hand. This signal box next to the towns main station dates from that time. Its now a museum headed by paper china check most of the old equipment has been preserved and the former signal man explains how it worked. This is a signal box number 15 which coordinated around way traffic in dick cheney on the northern part of the train station. There would be a dispatcher working in that as well as a signal month and someone keeping a record of all the train journeys in a register outdoor not a little survey dispatcher organize train traffic at the navy but if. There was another signal tower just like this one on the south side of a station for trains headed to the nightclub. The towers worked in tandem. And together they directed the entire ditching way junctions that. There was a stance of the work. In addition to the historical interlocking technology in the museum also includes a range of original documents. A small collection of historical telecommunications equipment. And other features such as a reinforced door installed to protect staff from air raids. That date then to the years ago could have been added to that its advantage it is the technology is for 942 when they set up these electric failsafe facilities of the ship that will be allowed to the Port Authority ponce or the event because it was during the war you can also see these reinforced doors means that really could show you but a little their purpose was to protect strategically important facilities such as Railway Stations that you. Would you still double the towers then gradually modernized the light signal use the shunting signals and here in the middle where you once had the mechanical signaling center they built a relays station with an Electrical Control Panel that was it was at its studied law the control panel was very modern and was therefore soon removed for use elsewhere and its great that he or his assistants. But if she was for both of our stimulated skimp what we see here today in the signaling center heritage site is actually how it looked in 1942 minutes got the word you stored it would have gotten out each day to develop. Our journey through bohemian switzerland ended in ditching but the story of the bohemian railway continues thanks also to new ideas on cross border transportation strategies for an environmentally friendly future. Including a new e. U. Funded joint project by the german and czech authorities aimed at promoting Sustainable Tourism in this treasured corner of central europe. Ban the bang. Bang. A week of. Doing the corona pandemic. Why not. Make errors fashion designers have gotten creative in the crisis looming presenting the collection on mock. The box. Hero max. Next w. Its summertime in germany and Everyone Wants to go to the beach drivelling in coronavirus times how does that look like. Making sure to follow all the hygiene rules lucas stay got checks in at the baltic sea visit some Tourist Attractions that have one thing in common and. We are here in this cold World Heritage sites. 16 s d w. Mater is for me. Its for you. Its for health. Is for. Beethoven is for us. Is for. Beethoven 202250th anniversary year on do you. Find out more about this amazing invention late in the show. But 1st a very warm welcome to new edition of euro back lets see what else we have for you in the program. Top chefs are refighting street food