flood disaster
Place of remembrance: memorial staircase to the flood of the century
Pastor Robert Rego blesses a staircase on the Erft. photo
© Roberto Pfeil/dpa
The cobblestones were originally in the pedestrian zone. Now the stones have been re-installed symbolically – provided with pictures from the time after the devastating flood.
In the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Bad Münstereifel, a staircase was inaugurated in the city center on Saturday flood disaster two years ago. The city explained that it should be a place to meet and pause. Paving stones are built into the stairway to the Erft, which are decorated with motifs of the flood and reconstruction. You can see excavators, helpers and thank you signs from the residents. The small staircase leads directly to the water of the river. The entrances can be closed to prevent flooding.
The paving stones used were originally in the pedestrian zone of Bad Münstereifel. But when the water was high, the tranquil little river Erft, which flows right through the middle of the medieval town, which is popular with tourists, became a raging river. Shops and the adjacent street were completely destroyed. The traces of the flood are still clearly visible in the cityscape.