Meanwhile in Czechia... /25
02.10.2025
Long ride to Děčín Castle reopened
After two years of renovation, the driveway to the castle in Děčín has been reopened to visitors. The impressive ramp, known as the Long Drive due to its length of almost 300 meters, was one of the last parts of the castle that had not yet been renovated after decades of use by three different armies. The driveway was partially resurfaced. However, many of the sandstone slabs were reused on the sides. In addition, some historical elements were reinstalled or moved back to their original positions. A new balcony was inserted from the rose garden. The ornately decorated wrought-iron gate of the upper portal was also restored. In addition, a small chapel at the lower end was moved to its historical position.
The last part of the palace to be restored is the rose garden and the pavilion known as the Sala Terrena, which adjoins the western end of the rose garden. The city will then turn its attention to objects in the area surrounding the palace. These include the garden house in the south gardens and the Marienwiese.
Ústí restores first important tomb
The city of Ústí nad Labem has restored the first of a series of architecturally valuable tombs. These are also graves of important personalities from the city's history. The grave of the von Wölfel family of entrepreneurs in the cemetery in Střekov fulfills both criteria. Alexander Edler von Wölfel was once the general director of the Association for Chemical and Metallurgical Production, today's Spolchemie plant in the middle of the town.
The city took over a dozen graves from the state last year, as no one had looked after them for a long time. The graves were therefore in need of restoration. The graves are of sentimental value to the city, which is why it is making money available for the restoration of the often magnificent graves. The restoration of the von Wölfels' tomb took just over half a year and cost 1.5 million crowns (61,000 euros). The tomb had to be stabilized, fitted with a new roof and the back wall renovated. The inscriptions were gilded and several sandstone elements were replaced.
D8 highway tunnel completely closed
As in April and July, the D8 highway from Dresden to Prague is once again completely closed for a week from today just after the border. The reason is the renovation of the tunnels of the highway D8 shortly after the border (tunnel Panenská and tunnel Libouchec). Two different detour routes have been signposted. As up to 30,000 vehicles a day are usually counted on this section, traffic chaos is expected in the surrounding area, but after the experience of the closures the first two times, this is expected to subside after a few days.
Some of the possible roads to avoid the closure are very narrow. Two separate detour routes have therefore been designated for freight traffic (and buses): For journeys in the direction of the Czech Republic, you have to exit in Petrovice and then wind your way through Petrovice, Tisá and Libouchec to rejoin the highway at the Telnice slip road (no. or km 80). In the opposite direction, leave the highway at this exit and drive via Varvažov, Telnice and Nákleřov to the Petrovice slip road. The police will deploy a larger force to ensure that trucks and buses adhere to this regulation and that oversized vehicles avoid the area on completely different routes.
A shorter route is available for cars: After the Petrovice exit, turn right and drive via Nákleřov and Telnice, but then not to Varvažov, but by turning left after the sharp bend via Knínice to the Telnice slip road back onto the highway. This route works in both directions.
As soon as the work on the tunnels is completed, traffic will be reopened on October 8. This will also mark the end of the tunnel renovation work that has been ongoing since spring. It was the first major renovation since the new highway was built. After the refurbishment, car drivers are now allowed to drive at a maximum speed of 100 km/h in the tunnels. Previously, the speed limit was 80 km/h, which is well worth adhering to as the speed is measured in the Panenská tunnel.