Enormous demand

Carola Bridge parts are sold as souvenirs

After the partial collapse, one of the bridge sections had to be blown up in a controlled manner.(Bild: APA/AFP/JENS SCHLUETER)

Small pieces of rubble from the partially collapsed Carola Bridge have become a sought-after souvenir. In response, a gift store in Dresden has come up with a good business idea.

The idea was inspired by souvenirs with rubble stones from the Dresden Frauenkirche or the Berlin Wall - and was initially an experiment. "But then it met with an incredible response," says Torsten Daae, one of the managing directors of the catapult gift store. According to Daae, the first batch sold out immediately online. 

After the partial collapse, one of the bridges had to be blown up in a controlled manner.(Bild: APA/AFP/JENS SCHLUETER)

The collapsed Carola Bridge(Bild: APA/dpa/Robert Michael)

"It's currently out of stock." There are numerous orders, especially from Dresden and the surrounding area, but also from Vienna. "Demand is outstripping supply". According to Daae, a solution is being worked on.

Some parts are recycled
The company commissioned with the demolition and disposal of the Carola Bridge, which partially collapsed on September 11th, has provided the busy store owners with one of the concrete blocks from the part that was salvaged first. They will have to crush and wash it themselves, said a company spokesman. The Carola Bridge rubble and debris that will be left over from the demolition over the next few weeks will be recycled concrete material for road construction primers.