Good news for visitors who prefer to visit Destination Germany within the coming weeks – it’s back to business as usual as flood waters continue to recede and the worst of the floods seem to be over.
Through the flood-hit cities and towns along the Danube, Elbe, Mulde and Saale rivers, transport and other essential infrastructures are yet again running as normal and despite about a local restrictions, visitors would be ready to enjoy each of the attractions and activities Germany has to give.
Towns corresponding to Passau, which was considerably affected, has now been given the all-clear; the historic centre of Regensburg, Germany’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site, was spared by floods and although the realm at the river bank directly across the visitor centre and ancient Steinerne Bridge was in peril, it’s miles now out of danger.
The situation across the flooded areas of the Elbe have improved significantly because the water levels in northern Germany continue to abate, but some warnings do remain in place where river dykes became heavily saturated and can pose a risk.
Some river regions, similar to round the Moselle and Saar, were completely unaffected by the flood situation and continued to function as normal inside the crisis; within the south and east of Germany, the clean-up operation is nearing completion.
Along the Danube, Neckar, Elbe and Saale rivers, rail travel was initially affected and a few restrictions are still in place; full information may be obtained from the Deutsche Bahn website.
Shipping traffic is likewise subject to partial delays on this region and recreational activities similar to cycling were temporarily suspended – some routes remain partially closed.
Cross-river ferries in these regions are still susceptible to restrictions and cars are being diverted.
In Saxony, within the east, 95 per cent of obtainable accommodation is open for business and most sights and attractions are fully operational.
There aren’t any tourism restrictions in Upper Lusatia, in Saxony-Switzerland, within the Erzgebirge or Vogtland and surrounding landscape of the national park which borders the River Elbe.
The city of Dresden and its treasures were spared from the flood; the historical and delightful city centre, with its shops and famous attractions remains fully open and visitors looking ahead to seeing the Semperoper, Zwinger, Hofkirche, State Art Collections and Royal Palace (as only a few examples) will encounter no problems.
In Saxony-Anhalt, the tourist region of Harz within the west was completely spared from the flood, but elsewhere, restrictions do remain in place.
However, the affected cities have taken great measures to give protection to the cultural heritage of the region; in Wittenberg, the historical city centre and the Luther memorials were unharmed by the floods, as were the cathedral treasures in Merseburg and Naumburg.
Hotels and leisure facilities are all welcoming visitors as usual and any remaining road diversions are clearly signposted, enabling visitors to enjoy their time in Saxony-Anhalt with minimal restrictions.
Due to severe flooding of the Elbe, areas in Brandenburg are still affected, particularly within the north west of the region.
However, because the weekend, the all-clear was given to a few of the river ways throughout the Spreewald, as an example, where visitors can once again benefit from the traditional and timeless pleasure of discovering this unique network of waterways by punt.