What's happened
The cross atop Germany's Zugspitze was airlifted for restoration after visitors repeatedly damaged it with stickers. Crafted in 1993, it will be carefully repaired and re-gilded before being returned ahead of the ski season. A replica inside the summit station aims to reduce risky climbing for selfies.
What's behind the headline?
The removal and restoration of the Zugspitze cross highlight ongoing tensions between tourism and preservation. The high visitor numbers and the popularity of selfies have led to vandalism, prompting authorities to take protective measures. The decision to restore the original cross and install a replica reflects a balance between cultural heritage and visitor safety. This effort will likely set a precedent for managing iconic landmarks in high-traffic tourist sites, emphasizing preservation while accommodating modern visitor behaviors. The timing ahead of the ski season suggests a strategic move to ensure the landmark remains intact during peak tourism periods, potentially reducing future vandalism and maintaining the site's cultural significance.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the cross was airlifted for repairs due to vandalism, with plans to restore it carefully and replace it before the ski season begins. The German news agency dpa confirms the details of the restoration process and the installation of a replica inside the summit station. Both sources emphasize the increasing number of stickers and risky behaviors by visitors, leading to the current conservation efforts. The articles collectively highlight the importance of balancing tourism, safety, and heritage preservation at the Zugspitze, a key regional landmark.
How we got here
The cross, made by Andrea Würzinger in 1993, replaced an 1851 original damaged beyond repair. It has become a popular selfie spot, attracting around 600,000 visitors annually. The area has seen increasing sticker vandalism, prompting the restoration effort and the installation of a replica inside the summit station to prevent damage.
Go deeper
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The Zugspitze, at 2,962 m above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest mountain in Germany. It lies south of the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the Austria–Germany border runs over its western summit. Sou