Mindener Schlagde, River port structure at Weser River, Minden, Germany
The structure is a riverside quay along the Weser in Minden, with heavy timber stakes driven into the ground to form a stable landing place for vessels. A promenade runs along the waterfront, marking the area where the former port basin once operated.
Emperor Charles V granted Minden staple rights in 1552, forcing ships to unload their cargo in the town, which led to the building of the first pier in 1572. This trade regulation turned the waterfront into a busy transshipment point for river traffic and commerce.
The term comes from the Low German word slait, describing the method of driving heavy timber stakes into the riverbed to secure vessels. Today, you can still see these massive wooden posts along the water's edge, marking the original mooring system.
The area sits close to the town center and now serves mainly as a car park with over three hundred spaces, with payment required in certain sections. The waterfront promenade along the river remains open to the public and invites a leisurely walk.
The original port basin was filled in and the mouth of the Bastau River relocated to the Minden glacis, leaving only the quay wall for river vessels today. This engineering change shifted the waterway and turned the once busy basin into dry land.
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