The border between Germany and Poland is defined for almost its entire length by the courses of the Oder and Neisse rivers. This line, established after World War II and a point of tension during the Cold War, has transformed into a remarkable bridge connecting two of the European Union’s most significant economies. Since Poland joined the Schengen Area in 2007, the dozens of crossing points are now completely open, fostering a new era of cooperation and integration. Cities that were once divided by a closed border are now reconnected and thriving as binational urban centers.
Prime examples include Frankfurt (Oder) in Germany and its Polish counterpart, Słubice, or Görlitz and Zgorzelec, where you can often simply walk across a footbridge to find yourself in another country. This easy access has revitalized the entire region, fostering cross-border communities, tourism, and commerce. The sheer number of new and rebuilt bridges spanning the two rivers stands as a powerful physical symbol of the two nations’ reconciliation and their shared future within a united Europe. What was once a barrier is now a meeting point, easily crossed by car, train, or even bicycle on dedicated paths.