Weserpromenade Minden

Minden’s centuries of urban development – based on the old town centre being surrounded by a ring of fortifications –kept the city at a remove from the banks of the Weser. Although the transformation of the glacis into a civic park at the gates of the city manifested a close relationship between the city and nature, the northern bank of the Weser continued to be reduced to purely functional aspects and has to realize its high recreational potential. The reorganisation of the Schlagde area has presented a unique opportunity to reactivate this central area with new contemporary uses and to create a vibrant meeting place for Minden’s residents and visitors alike.

The waterfront between the mouth of the Bastau river in the south and the railway bridge in the north will be developed into a promenade at the gates of the city and close the glacis ring. In the future, the left and right banks of the Weser can be connected via a pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the north to form an eventful circular route offering a series of various experiences at rapid intervals. The Weser promenade is divided into a central urban area around the former Schlagde loading port, an open meadow-like segment in the north and a forest-like segment along Weserglacis in the south.