News articles

BRIDGEd border

On the initiative of TU Wien, TU Brno and landuni, the intervention “Grenzland zuschütten” (fill in the border) was launched in spring 2023 as part of the Waldviertel festival. The border river Frattingbach and the border towns of Vratěnín and Luden were explored by local residents, students, teachers and interested parties. Now the Czech-Austrian border has been literally and permanently bridged at this site.

During the intervention, the borderland was explored on foot. Red planks were laid across the Frattingbach stream as part of an artistic performance and red footboards were placed on both sides of the riverbank. This allowed all participants to cross the border, which has taken on different meanings in history: the region was once part of the same empire, but was later divided by the Iron Curtain. Today, the border is open and the existing emotional, cultural and linguistic boundaries need to be overcome!

The walk was followed by a student workshop, which highlighted the desire to build a permanent bridge at this location to create a pedestrian link between the two towns of Luden and Vratěnín. In the summer of 2024, a wooden pedestrian bridge was built over the Frattingbach and officially inaugurated during a picnic.

A person crosses a rivulet with the help of planks laid across the riverbed. Several people stand on the bank.

© Benjamin Altrichter

Impressions of the intervention "fill in the border" in spring 2023.

Several people are crossing a stream. In the foreground there is a sign with the words Achtung Kunst.

© Benjamin Altrichter

Impressions of the intervention "fill in the border" in spring 2023.

Several dozen people stand in a circle between trees and listen to the stories of an elderly man.

© Benjamin Altrichter

Impressions of the intervention "fill in the border" in spring 2023.

A group of people gather in front of an older, single-storey house. A poster with the words Welcome to the Viertelfestival Niederösterreich is hanging on a fence.

© Benjamin Altrichter

Impressions of the intervention "fill in the border" in spring 2023.

Several people are walking towards a wooden footbridge that crosses a rivulet.

© Karel Havlis

Impressions of opening of the bridge in summer 2024.

Several older people are sitting on wooden benches at a wooden table with drinks on it. They are in a field.

© Karel Havlis

Impressions of opening of the bridge in summer 2024.

Several people are standing on a wooden footbridge that crosses a rivulet.

© Karel Havlis

Impressions of opening of the bridge in summer 2024.