A Technical Masterpiece with History and a Future
In the middle of Germany, near the town of Schönebeck in Saxony-Anhalt, there is a technical masterpiece that has been defying the forces of the Elbe for 150 years - and continues to reliably protect people, towns and the countryside to this day. At the heart of a sophisticated flood protection system, it diverts huge volumes of water into the bypass channel in the event of an emergency, thus relieving the burden on the towns of Schönebeck and Magdeburg as well as surrounding communities.
But the Pretzien weir can do more: it keeps the river navigable, preserves fertile lowlands and stands as a symbol of sustainable technology that works - even today. A monument to the spirit of engineering, embedded in nature, unique in function and form and on its way to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit the Pretzien weir - where technology meets history and the future begins.
