Clemens Gersch

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The A45 was the most beautiful highway in Germany. But almost 50 years after its construction, the A45 has become the country's biggest problem child. For the people of Sauerland and Siegerland, the A45 was a road of hope - the starting signal for the economic region of South Westphalia. A place of longing and a destination for drives. Since December 2, 2021, 3 p.m., nothing in Lüdenscheid has been the same. The big problem: there is no hope of improvement in the short term. Since spring 2022, it has been clear that the highway closure will last for years.

The Drachenfels, a 321-meter mountain along the Rhine, is one of Europe’s most climbed peaks and a significant symbol of technological progress and nature conservation in Germany. It became a focal point of Rhine Romanticism in the 19th century, inspiring art and legends, particularly the tale of a dragon. The nearby city of Königswinter thrives on tourism, which began with English visitors in the early 19th century and was boosted by the introduction of Germany's first cogwheel railway. The fairy-tale-like Drachenburg castle, built in 1884 and recently renovated, is a major attraction. Filmmakers Clemens Gersch and Michael Wieseler document their ascent of the Drachenfels, meeting a 90-year-old photographer and a local tour guide, while also exploring the unique "Guerilla wine" produced in the area.