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Augsburg water management system recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site
At its 43rd session in Baku/Azerbaijan today (6 July), the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognised the Augsburg water management system as a World Heritage site.
Michelle Müntefering, Federal Foreign Office Minister of State for International Cultural Policy, issued the following statement today on this decision:
I am delighted about the decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. This inscription in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List not only pays tribute to Augsburg’s hydraulic engineering and fountain design as technological and artistic achievements, but also recognises the sustainable approach to our most valuable resource for over 700 years. Once again, this demonstrates the close connection between culture and sustainability as part of our environment.
Augsburg is home to a sustainable water management system that developed step by step through the use of innovative hydraulic engineering technology in the city and exemplifies a commendable use of water resources over the course of more than 700 years. The system represents an urban water landscape whose continued technical range is unparalleled. It functions on the basis of the preserved ensemble of water management elements, such as canals, waterways, waterworks for drinking water, hydrotechnical systems and buildings, three fountains of an outstanding artistic quality, a water-cooled butchers’ hall and shop, and a range of hydraulic power plants.