Bismarck Tower (Darmstadt)
| Bismarck Tower | |
|---|---|
| Tower type: | Observation tower |
| State : | Germany |
| State : | Hesse |
| Location : | Darmstadt |
| Location : | on the Dommerberg |
| Geo coordinates : | 49 ° 50 '39.7 " N , 8 ° 40' 46" E |
| Site altitude: | 263.6 m above sea level NHN |
| Tower height: | 25 m |
| Viewing platform height: | 290 m above sea level NN |
| Construction time : | 1904-1908 |
The Bismarck Tower in Darmstadt is a lookout tower built from 1904 to 1908 on the 263.6 m above sea level in the southeastern part of the city . NHN high Dommerberg .
history
The 25 m high Bismarck tower and the adjoining fairground on the Dommerberg were built in 1904–1908 by order of the students of the Technical University of Darmstadt in memory of Otto von Bismarck according to the plans of government building supervisor Gustav Schmoll called Eisenwerth under the direction of the architect Heinrich Stumpf.
Solstice celebrations were held annually on June 21st on the Dommerberg . The tower, built as a basalt-clad concrete structure, was originally free on all sides and thus afforded a good view.
The following picture emerges from contemporary descriptions:
The Bismarck complex was laid out on a walled ground as a raised terrace, with the actual tower attached to the west side. The large, oval fairground has a low torch basin in its center with a diameter of approx. 3 m and is surrounded by stepped wall parapets. On the access side, the parapets end on two brick pillars, which are crowned by bowls of flames.
A wide staircase with five steps leads to the fairground and in a straight line to the torch pool. The tower entrance is reached via two staircases with three and four steps, which are in turn flanked by two pillars with flames.
The 10.6 m high rectangular tower shaft rises above the 7.5 m high base. A 3.1 m high structure protrudes above it. The building is closed by a 3.2 m high vault-like tower head, which consists of two separate pyramid-shaped structures.
The square viewing platform with the centrally installed fire basin can be reached via stairs. The pool has a diameter of 3 m and has circular ventilation holes on its edge. At that time, paraffin oil was burned from the Messel pit, which was pumped up through a pipe from the ground floor to the basin.
An oak entrance door leads to the entrance hall behind the two small windows. The structure is divided into three floors by concrete ceilings. The upper floor can be reached via stone stairs. From here the viewing platform can be reached via iron stairs.
To the left of the staircase there was a Bismarck bust on a pedestal, donated by Geh. Senior building officer Prof. Hofmann, set up. It is no longer there.
After the Second World War, the German Weather Service set up a weather station in the Bismarck Tower, which existed until 1967. From 1967 to 1969 there was a US Army radio station on the tower. A civil radio system has been located on the tower since 1969.
In the 1970s, the Federal Post Office paid the users of the tower, namely the student body of the Technical University of Darmstadt, a severance payment of 20,000 DM and acquired a heritable building right from the owner of the tower, the State of Hesse.
From 2001 to 2005, the Federal Network Agency, as the successor to the Federal Post Office, carried out several renovations (including new grouting, sealing).
Guided tours to and on the Bismarck Tower were still offered in 2006. In 2012 the tower was closed to visitors. Today the entire complex shows visible structural damage (missing fire bowls, dilapidated pillars). In November 2014, the facility was cordoned off with construction fences.
Others
The Bismarck Tower is colloquially called "Dindefass" (inkwell).
See also
literature
- Günter Fries et al .: City of Darmstadt ( monument topography Federal Republic of Germany , cultural monuments in Hesse) . Vieweg Verlag , Braunschweig 1994, ISBN 3-528-06249-5 , p. 489.
- Thomas Deuster: The Bismarck Tower and Forest Park Marienhöhe , 2nd edition, S. Toeche-Mittler Verlagsbuchhandlung GmbH, 2009, ISBN 978-3-87820-121-2 .
Web links
- The Bismarck Tower in Darmstadt on bismarcktuerme.de
- The Darmstadt Bismarck Tower on the Dommerberg on bismarckturm-darmstadt.de
- Bismarck Tower (Darmstadt) on stadtlexikon-darmstadt.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ Map services of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation ( information )
- ^ The Bismarck Tower Darmstadt on the Dommerberg , accessed May 29, 2010
- ↑ Stadtlexikon Darmstadt. Konrad Theiss Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2006, p. 89.