Thick Tower (Görlitz)

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Thick tower

The Thick Tower or Frauenturm is part of the historic Görlitz city fortifications . The 46 m high tower is called the “Dicker Turm” by the people of Görlitz because of its massive size. It is the most massive tower in the city, its wall thickness in the lower part is up to 5.34 m. In addition to it, the Nikolaiturm and Reichenbacher towers have been preserved. In total, Görlitz had four large watchtowers and defense towers.

history

Weather vane on the tower

The tower was built as part of the city expansion in 1250. As early as 1305, a "stone tower" and a "stone gate" were mentioned after their location on Steinstrasse . The guard on the tower received a tower room and a chamber in 1529. The tower guards on the city towers were not abolished until October 1904.

The tower has largely retained its appearance over the centuries. However, the originally open gallery was closed in the 16th century. The copper hood was made in the Renaissance style.

The former gate system was designed three times. The inner gate facing the city side was connected to the city wall on both sides and stood in front of the tower on Steinstrasse. The middle passage was built over with a building and had a portcullis made of boards and fitted with iron shoes. The third gate was a very well-fortified building, similar to a bastion. This building was already in the moat and was connected to the city wall with thick walls. A bridge followed to the south, spanning the moat. This was built from the ground up with stone in 1595 and ended just before the gate. The bridge and the gateway were connected by a drawbridge. This drawbridge was replaced by a stone one in 1772. In 1778 the portcullis was removed. In 1838 the two inner gates were demolished and in 1847/48 the remaining Frauentor and the bridge followed. The trench was filled.

From 1974 to 1999 the students of the engineering university Görlitz-Zittau celebrated their parties in the upper rooms. The tower was unused from 2000 to 2006.

Sandstone relief on the tower

Historic city arms on sandstone relief

Since the city had been loyal to the crown during the Hussite Wars , it was given a city coat of arms by Emperor Sigismund . The sandstone relief by Briccius Gauske on the tower represents this coat of arms together with the two figures Maria and Barbara.

It was originally located at the Frauentor outside the city center above the passage and was only attached to the tower in 1856. The coat of arms inscription says: "INVIA VIRTUTI NULLA EST VIA" - No path is impossible for bravery.

Sightseeing

The Förderverein Kulturstadt Görlitz-Zgorzelec eV (FVKS) has been managing the tower since 2007 . Visits with climbing the tower are possible as part of guided tours on the hour from 12 noon to 5 pm between mid-March and the end of December.

Web links

Commons : Frauenturm / Dicker Turm  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stadtverwaltung Görlitz, Kommunale Statisticsstelle (Ed.): Statistisches Jahrbuch 2009 . Görlitz City Administration, Central Copy Office, 2009, p. 11 .
  2. ↑ a b Richard Jecht : History of the City of Görlitz, Volume 1, Half Volume 2 . 1st edition. Verlag des Magistrates der Stadt Görlitz, 1934, p. 554 .
  3. ^ Richard Jecht: History of the City of Görlitz, Volume 1, Half Volume 2 . 1st edition. Verlag des Magistrates der Stadt Görlitz, 1934, p. 554 f .
  4. ^ Richard Jecht: History of the City of Görlitz, Volume 1, Half Volume 2 . 1st edition. Verlag des Magistrates der Stadt Görlitz, 1934, p. 556 f .
  5. ↑ a b TurmTour Görlitz-Zgorzelec> Dicker Turm on the website FVKS - Förderverein Kulturstadt Görlitz-Zgorzelec eV , accessed on August 29, 2018
  6. ↑ Towers and fortifications> Dicker Turm or Frauenturm on the website of the city of Görlitz

Coordinates: 51 ° 9 ′ 13.5 ″  N , 14 ° 59 ′ 14 ″  E