Blaubeuren in transition: worry about the gastro industry during blue pot renovation

Blaubeuren in transition: worry about the gastro industry during blue pot renovation

in Blaubeuren, a popular destination for tourists, ensures that the blue pot is closed. Every year, the bright blue karst source undoubtedly attracts hundreds of thousand visitors, but since the beginning of the extensive renovation on August 26th, the effects on local catering have been significant. The closure is expected to continue until December 2028 and has led to a noticeable loss of income.

The landlady Andrea Schneider-Yigit from the Blautopf inn describes the situation dramatically: "The streets were swept empty on the first weekend, the city of Blaubeuren died. The signs were clear; Due to the construction work, the guests failed to materialize, which for many companies led to a decline in income of 60 to 70 percent. The big goal of the renovation is to make the area around the source more attractive and barrier -free, but the long -term advantages do not really make the current losses.

renovation measures and their effects

The extensive general renovation, decided by the local council as early as 2016, presents the city's gastronomy with a major challenge. The area around the karst source, which extends on the edge of the old town, is now not accessible and is being redesigned. The city plans that the work will cost millions and hopes for a sustainable upgrading of the historical place. "The area around the source is getting old and must therefore be renovated," explains the city administration.

Regardless of the official closure, some tourists ignore the barriers, even if there are only a few, according to the city planner Manuela Irlwek. There were also temporary openings that allowed visitors to partially enjoy the blue pot in their free time. But these short -term solutions are not effective enough for the catering trade, since most guests plan their visits well in advance.

future solutions for the blue pot

The landlady Schneider-Yigit expresses the urgent wish that the blue pot can be visited throughout the construction period. Almost all restaurateurs support this and require posters to ensure that access should be guaranteed at any time. "The blue pot must simply be accessible as far as possible," she makes clear her opinion. In addition, the possibility is discussed to build a viewing platform in order to give tourists a look at the source despite the work. But this idea is still on the waiting list because it requires approval that can be delayed by the city's bureaucratic processes.

A big problem for the catering businesses is the time of the construction work, which is in the middle of the high season in which most visitors are expected between April and October. "I would have liked better communication before the start of the construction work," sums up Schneider-Yigit. You did not feel involved in the plans and the current situation puts numerous companies under pressure.

The fascinating color of the blue pot is the result of a natural phenomenon. The light that hits the source is often broken by the clear limestone particles in the water, which creates the deep blue play of colors. The clear water flows from a huge cave with up to 2,300 liters per second, formed by rainwater from the Swabian Alb. Bathing in the source is not allowed due to nature conservation reasons, although the water temperature is around nine degrees all year round.

dpa-infocom GmbH