List of pyramids in the district of Zwickau

Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap

The list of place pyramids in the district of Zwickau offers an overview of the current and former rotating pyramids in the cities and communities of the district of Zwickau in public places. Originally made for domestic use, the Christmas pyramids have also been made as large outdoor pyramids since the 1930s. They are an integral part of the customs in the Saxon Ore Mountains and meanwhile also in large parts of the Erzgebirge foreland . - However, you have a history in this region that goes almost as far back, because the first outdoor pyramid was erected in Lichtenstein-Callnberg as early as 1936 .

In many places, the pyramid pushing is celebrated annually around the First Advent . Most pyramids rotate until the new year , in some places until Candlemas .

Current location pyramids

The oldest preserved and still in use local pyramid was erected in Bernsdorf in 1965 .

The following table provides an overview of the large pyramids existing within the boundaries of the Zwickau district , which were erected by the cities and municipalities with their approval or on their or joint initiative.

place	Location	Construction year	history
Bärenwalde ( Crinitzberg )	Auerbacher Strasse, church 50 ° 33 ′ 59 ″ N, 12 ° 31 ′ 43 ″ E	2003	As early as 2000, some citizens took up the idea of building a town pyramid, with the village club taking over the patronage. The idea to recreate the frame of the Bärenwalder church tower was born early on. The pyramid is about five meters high and the top of the church tower is covered with about 22,000 slate imitations. Around 1,200 hours of work were volunteered until completion. The pyramid has three turntables. At the bottom you can see the birth of Christ with Mary, Joseph and the Three Kings. Above that there are figures in the professions of farmer, forester, forest worker, herb woman, carpenter and blacksmith, which were important for the development of the place. At the very top, a caror does her rounds.
Beiersdorf ( Fraureuth )	Church 50 ° 40 ′ 52 ″ N, 12 ° 20 ′ 48 ″ E	2001	The house pyramid shows carolers. In terms of design, it is based on the pyramid in Oberrothenbach, which was partly taken as a model. There has been a carillon behind the pyramid since 2014, the melody of which sounds every full hour 10 minutes after the neighboring church bells. Most of the cash and non-cash contributions for the construction were provided by private individuals, with the city administration contributing a financial part. In the vicinity of the pyramid there is a Christmas crib designed in 2003 in a corridor driven into the rock.
Bernsdorf	B 173, town center 50 ° 46 ′ 8 ″ N, 12 ° 39 ′ 51 ″ E	1965	In 1964 the local carving group decided to build a local pyramid. Willy Lauckner designed the six-meter-high rod pyramid. It has three struts that form the base of an equilateral triangle. It was created by the local carving association and local craftsmen. The construction time amounted to a total of 1150 hours of construction. The pyramid wings are made from parts of the plastic outer skin for the Trabant . It is equipped with twelve up to 60 centimeters high carved figures made of linden wood. The lower turntable shows farmers and harvest workers based on the agriculture that characterizes the place. Above there are four craftsmen and at the top, girls do their rounds with sledges, snowmen and objects like trees and rocks. With some figures an attempt was made to achieve a resemblance to people living at the time. In 2013 the figures were extensively restored.
Crimmitschau	Market 50 ° 48 ′ 59 ″ N, 12 ° 23 ′ 13 ″ E
Dennheritz	50 ° 48 '53 "N, 12 ° 27' 46" E	2011	The cost of building the rod pyramid with three turntables was 12,750 euros. The local council made a grant of 7,500 euros available. The remaining amount was raised by sponsors, some of whom also sponsored individual parts of the pyramid. In 2017, the first signs of wear and tear on figures and stylized candles were counteracted by a general overhaul. The birth of Christ is depicted on the lower plate, above a caroling and at the very top angels making music make their rounds.
Ebersbrunn	50 ° 39 ′ 8 ″ N, 12 ° 26 ′ 20 ″ E		Three-tier pyramid with a railroad, children and local professions
Fraureuth	Factory site, Fraureuth 50 ° 42 ′ 12 ″ N, 12 ° 21 ′ 20 ″ E	2014	It took almost three years from the idea to completion, and the project was financed through donations. The seven-meter-high rod pyramid is decorated with gift packages (lower floor) with local motifs (roller bearings, organ, building of the porcelain factory, etc.). The figures are two-dimensional. The upper floor shows the church and shepherds with sheep. At Easter the pyramid is decorated as an Easter pyramid.
Gersdorf	Hauptstraße, town center 50 ° 45 ′ 31 ″ N, 12 ° 42 ′ 31 ″ E	1983	Created by the "Schnitzverein Gersdorf eV", the pyramid was transferred to the municipal administration in 1983. Assembly and dismantling as well as care and maintenance has been handled by the Schnitzverein from the very beginning. It is solemnly pushed on the Saturday before the first Advent. Among the figures are concrete workers and a farmer with a pig.
Glauchau	Nicolaiplatz 50 ° 49 ′ 7 ″ N, 12 ° 32 ′ 32 ″ E	2007	In December 2005 the idea arose from the “Denkmalverein eV”. Regarding the chosen design - the silhouette was created by trainees from the vocational school center “Dr. Friedrich Dittes ”- as well as the choice of location, citizens were asked and based on this, the“ Nicolaiplatz ”was chosen. In addition to the association's own financial contribution, there was a grant from the city as well as the proceeds from an auction of around 160 components - including figures - of the new pyramid among Glauchau citizens. The inauguration took place on December 2nd, 2007. Since then, new elements have also been added. In 2010 it was officially handed over to the city of Glauchau. The pyramid is 4.5 m high and the rotating part is modeled on the Bismarck tower by means of continuous partition walls . On four levels, among other things, old guilds, Glauchau buildings or elements that are supposed to remind of the urban tradition are shown.
Grumbach ( Callenberg )	Fairground 50 ° 49 ′ 51 ″ N, 12 ° 37 ′ 53 ″ E	1985	Four-tier, square step pyramid with miners and Erzgebirge motifs
Hartenstein	Market 50 ° 39 ′ 42 ″ N, 12 ° 40 ′ 16 ″ E		Four-tier pyramid with miners and figures from the Erzgebirge.
Hartmannsdorf b. Kirchberg	Dorfstrasse, center 50 ° 35 ′ 36 ″ N, 12 ° 32 ′ 47 ″ E	1983	The idea of building a pyramid arose in the summer of 1981 from some of the town's residents. The three-tier pyramid has the shape of a winding tower. Regional professions are depicted on the lower floor, the Wilkau-Carlsfeld narrow-gauge railway on the middle and carolers on the upper floor.
Hermsdorf ( Bernsdorf )	Obere Hauptstrasse / confluence with Bachstrasse 50 ° 47 ′ 2 ″ N, 12 ° 40 ′ 43 ″ E		Glazed house pyramid with carved natural wood figures
Hohenstein-Ernstthal	Altmarkt 50 ° 48 ′ 8 ″ N, 12 ° 42 ′ 28 ″ E	1993	The previous model at the same location was last built in 1991. For almost 19,000 D-Marks at the time, the frame was commissioned by the Lämmel joinery in Oberlungwitz . The material of the pyramid wings , which were made from old Trabant roofs, is remarkable. The figures were created by the local carver Hans Graupner. On the lower turntable there are six figures from mining history, in the middle four figures in typical trades and at the top two carolers are making their rounds. On the 1st of Advent in 1993, the pyramid was ceremoniously pushed for the first time.
Kirchberg	Altmarkt 50 ° 37 ′ 16 ″ N, 12 ° 31 ′ 38 ″ E	2012	The previous model was only installed once during the Christmas period of 1938/39. The current 6.3 meter high rotating tower was built according to an image document of the previous model from the local history. It was made by the carpenters Rudolph Kolbe and Peter Herzog and the toolmaker Christian Bauer. Gerfried Kramer and his daughter Nadine took over the selection and final design of the colored figures. Figures or objects with a close local reference can be seen on three levels: At the bottom, miners of hard coal and bismuth. In industry and commerce with Steinmetz, brewers and clothiers with sliding bracket. Another level is dedicated to the former narrow-gauge railway with a locomotive, wagon and conductor . The spire is modeled on the St. Margarethenkirche. The base of a former Bismarck monument is used for the installation .
Lichtenstein / Sa.	Neumarkt coordinates are missing! Help.	1977	Only a few figures have survived from the previous model from 1936. The 9-meter-high rod pyramid shows the regional professions miner, farmer, weaver and carpenter on the lower plate. Winter sports are presented on the middle plate and children playing do their laps on the upper plate. The 86 centimeter model of the Lichtenstein carver Rudolf Donhoff, made before construction, has been preserved and has been on permanent loan to the city administration for their own museum since 2008. Until the end of Christmas 2016/17, her place was on Glauchauer Strasse ( ⊙ ).
Limbach-Oberfrohna	Johannisplatz coordinates are missing! Help.		The pyramid is six meters high and its origins go back to before 1990. The current figures were created around 2000 with the help of the Lichtenstein Toy Museum.
Lobsdorf ( St. Egidien )	50 ° 48 ′ 46 "N, 12 ° 36 ′ 48" E	2008	The decision to build was made in 2007 by the citizens of Lobsdorf, and the construction time for the privately financed pyramid was 12 months. The three-storey pyramid is 4.5 meters high and has an impeller diameter of 1.8 meters. The construction consists of 150 individual parts and has a mass of approx. 1.5 tons. A total of 17 figures represent the Christmas story. On November 29, 2008, the pyramid was ceremoniously pushed for the first time.
Meerane	Pond area 50 ° 51 ′ 3 ″ N, 12 ° 27 ′ 47 ″ E	1996	The rod pyramid was donated by the trade and industry association. On November 30, 1996, it was ceremoniously pushed for the first time.
Mülsen St. Jacob ( Mülsen )	former town hall 50 ° 44 ′ 26 ″ N, 12 ° 34 ′ 22 ″ E
Mülsen St. Niclas ( Mülsen )	former town hall 50 ° 43 ′ 9 ″ N, 12 ° 35 ′ 45 ″ E	1969	In 1966 the then mayor Werner Lehmann had the idea for a town pyramid. In 1967 the design in the Gothic style was fully developed, from 1968 to 1969 it was finally made by the local wood carving association. The story pyramid is 6.5 meters high and has a wingspan of 2.2 meters. A total of 18 turned figures rotate on the four floors, symbolizing the local craft of the time.
Mülsen St. Micheln ( Mülsen )	Mill bridge 50 ° 44 ′ 53 ″ N, 12 ° 34 ′ 18 ″ E	1983	The three-tier pyramid was built in 1983 by Siegfried Krumbein. Their original location was on private property on Michelner Hauptstrasse across from a farm. After the property was sold, it was moved to its current location on the corner of Hauptstrasse and Auerbacher Strasse. the figures turned by Krumbein together with his wife represent angels, hunters with deer and mountain musicians.
Niederfrohna	"Pfiffikus" daycare center, Obere Hauptstraße 18a 50 ° 52 ′ 49 ″ N, 12 ° 44 ′ 33 ″ E
Oberrothenbach ( Zwickau )	at Altenburger Strasse 50 ° 45 ′ 59 ″ N, 12 ° 28 ′ 30 ″ E		One-tier house pyramid with carolers.
Oberwiera	Settlement of wooden houses 50 ° 53 ′ 18 ″ N, 12 ° 32 ′ 35 ″ E (approx.)		1985
Planitz ( Zwickau )	Oberplanitzer Markt 50 ° 40 ′ 53 ″ N, 12 ° 28 ′ 33 ″ E	1998	The groups of figures of the Planitz pyramid were designed by the Planitzer Schnitzverein and represent fairytale scenes. On the first Advent in 1998 it was turned on for the first time. Planning and execution took a total of eleven years, this long period being due to the political changes in 1989/1990.
Reinsdorf	At the town hall 50 ° 42 ′ 1 ″ N, 12 ° 33 ′ 13 ″ E		Three-and-a-half-story step pyramid with angels, miners, soldiers from the Thirty Years' War and local professions.
Rüsdorf ( Bernsdorf )	Gasthof “Goldener Stern” 50 ° 47 ′ 6 ″ N, 12 ° 38 ′ 26 ″ E	1994	Schwibbogen with a centered pyramid rotating mechanism. The hobbyist Helmut Feierabend designed and built it from Kuhschnappel . Since 1994 he has exhibited it in his own front yard. In 2014 he donated it to the community, which had it restored from its own building yard and also renewed the entire electrical system. It was inaugurated for the first time at Christmas time 2014/2015. Five turned and colored painted figures turn their rounds on the pyramid plate. These are chimney sweeps, skiers, hunters, snowmen and firefighters. A miner's figure stands firmly in the arch on both sides of the rotating mechanism.
Russdorf ( Limbach-Oberfrohna )	50 ° 50 ′ 57 "N, 12 ° 43 ′ 4" E
St. Egidien	Town Hall 50 ° 47 ′ 17 ″ N, 12 ° 36 ′ 40 ″ E		Four-tier step pyramid with nutcrackers, miners, professions and Santa Clauses
Schlunzig ( Zwickau )	Center of Schlunzig, at the fire department 50 ° 47 ′ 29 ″ N, 12 ° 29 ′ 50 ″ E	2000	In 2015, signs of wear and tear were counteracted through repairs and overhauls. Defective wooden parts, parts of the electrical system and the drive were replaced.
Silberstrasse ( Wilkau-Haßlau )	At the sports field (entrance to the B 93 from the direction of Schneeberg) 50 ° 39 ′ 38 ″ N, 12 ° 33 ′ 16 ″ E	2018	The three-tier pyramid was created in-house, the figures used were former Wilkauer figures (carolers and various professions).
Stangendorf ( Mülsen )	At the sports center 50 ° 45 ′ 44 ″ N, 12 ° 33 ′ 34 ″ E	2005	The two-tier pyramid was created with the help of several residents of the street “Am Sportzentrum”. On November 27, 2005 it was solemnly pushed for the first time.
Pole green ( Kirchberg )	Irfersgrüner Str. At the kindergarten 50 ° 35 ′ 8 ″ N, 12 ° 27 ′ 0 ″ E	2013	The previous model from 1978 was last installed at Christmas 2012/13. In 2012, the "Dorf- Heimat- und Jugendverein Stangengrün eV" decided to overhaul the old pyramid by the beginning of the following Christmas season. Much work could be done by the members, financial support came from the Kirchberg city administration. The impeller and the wooden frame were completely rebuilt, and the drive of the previous model was overhauled. The figures were reused. The rod pyramid shows local and Christmas figures on three turntables. At the bottom are the rural motifs of farmers with carts, mushroom pickers, signposts and stagecoaches. In the middle four miners and at the top carolers do their laps.
Thurm ( Mülsen )	50 ° 46 ′ 2 "N, 12 ° 32 ′ 43" E		Three-tier pyramid with miners and local professions.
Waldenburg	Market 50 ° 52 ′ 28 ″ N, 12 ° 36 ′ 10 ″ E	1997	Four-story, 5.8-meter-high story pyramid. The costs of 35,000 DM at the time were paid exclusively from donations. The figures were made by a specialized Freiberg company. The Christmas story is presented on the four floors, and there are carolers, angels and typical figures from handicrafts and education that are related to urban development.
Werdau	Fred-Oettel-Bürgerpark 50 ° 44 ′ 18 ″ N, 12 ° 21 ′ 54 ″ E	2014	The more than three meter high pyramid was realized thanks to many sponsors from the Landwehrgrund local history association, some of which were also directly involved in the construction. The figures embody professions that are characteristic of Werdau. There are also Christian motifs as well as those typical of the Ore Mountains.
Weißbach ( Langenweißbach )	50 ° 37 ′ 42 "N, 12 ° 35 ′ 7" E		Three-tier pyramid with carolers, figures from the Erzgebirge, and local professions.
Wildenfels	Town Hall 50 ° 39 ′ 57 ″ N, 12 ° 36 ′ 33 ″ E	1973	The pyramid is supposed to represent a stylized winding tower. The figures on the turntable are blue paintworkers, mountain blacksmiths, miners, ironworkers and steiger. It was built in 1973 by Kurt Schmalfuß, Fritz Rothe, Erich Scheffler and Erich Weigelt. The total workload amounted to 2500 hours.
Wilkau	Town Hall 50 ° 40 ′ 29 ″ N, 12 ° 30 ′ 48 ″ E		Two-tier rod pyramid with figures of the Erzgebirge. (December 31, 2018: without figures.)
Wolfersgrün ( Kirchberg )	Church 50 ° 36 ′ 47 ″ N, 12 ° 29 ′ 7 ″ E	2010	The project was presented at a residents' meeting in 2009 and the Wolfersgrün people voted in a survey to set up a town pyramid. Monetary donations were then collected for the construction and a year later sufficient funds were available for the construction, in the meantime a pyramid interest group was founded. The construction was supported by local craftsmen and citizens. On November 27, 2010 it was solemnly pushed for the first time. The rod pyramid has three turntables. Figures and objects that are closely related to the development of the place rotate on the lower one. In the middle you can see the birth of Christ with a stable and on top a caroler is doing her rounds.
Zwickau	Kornmarkt 50 ° 42 ′ 59 ″ N, 12 ° 29 ′ 45 ″ E (until 2012/13 main market)	1975	The 6-meter-high, four-tier pyramid was made by the Planitzer Schnitzverein, which also took on the initial construction.

Former and / or no longer existing pyramids

place	Location	Installation period	history
Hohenstein-Ernstthal	Old market	approx. 1980-1991	There were plans for a town pyramid as early as 1976, and it was inaugurated in the early 1980s. Citizens of the city made the set, the figures were made in Seiffen / Erzgeb. turned. It was built for the last time in 1991. The figures, including a miner, were to be given as a gift to the twin town of Rheinberg , but seven figures were kept and are being kept in the town's textile and racing museum.
Kirchberg		1938/39	As early as 1938, Kirchberg owned a so-called rotating tower , which was manufactured the year before for 310 Reichsmarks. There was also a donation box for the Winter Relief Organization of the German People on it - inserting a coin set the carillon going. However, the rotating tower was only in use for one season; it was not rebuilt in 1939. Nothing is known about the whereabouts after 1944.
Lichtenstein-Callnberg	Altmarkt (previously: Callnberger Markt)	1936 - approx. 1955	The first Lichtenstein city pyramid dates from 1936. The first location was the Callnberger Markt, and the last one was on the Altmarkt. It was last built in the mid-1950s. Only a few figures of her have survived, including a shepherd, which are kept in the local museum. In 2007 the “Association for the History of the City of Lichtenstein / Sa. eV “made a call for the reconstruction of the pyramid. According to the task of the association with the participation of the Daetz-Centrum and Miniwelt GmbH, it should be inaugurated for the 300th anniversary of Callnberg in May 2008. However, for unknown reasons, the replica was not realized.
Pole green ( Kirchberg )		1978 - 2012/13	The first pole-green pyramid was a 6-meter-high, four-tier pole pyramid and was completed in 1978 after just 14 days of construction. Due to age and weather damage, it was last repaired in a makeshift manner and was set up for the last time in 2012/13. The figures have been retained and have taken their place on the successor model at the same location.

literature

Robin Hermann: Ortspyramiden . From Adorf to Zschorlau - history models facts. tape II . Robin Hermann, Chemnitz 2011, ISBN 978-3-940860-05-7 .
Technical school for tourism of the Institute for Social and Cultural Education eV (Hrsg.): Christmas pyramids in the Saxon Ore Mountains . Part 1: Western Ore Mountains . Husum Verlag, 1996, ISBN 3-88042-796-8 .

Web links

Commons : Ortspyramiden in the district of Zwickau - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ undefined: Thuringian - Saxon Easter Path. In: osterpfad-thueringen-sachsen.de. 2010, accessed April 13, 2017 .

↑ Lobsdorfers build their own pyramids. Accessed on November 3, 2015 .

↑ Tanja Goldbecher: Pyramid shines in the 33rd year . The festive decorations will turn again this Christmas in Mülsen St. Micheln. The 85-year-old client was there during the construction. In: Freie Presse (Ed.): Freie Presse . Zwickau November 21, 2015.

↑ gemeindeoberwiera.de

↑ Freiepresse.de

↑ zwickau.de ( Memento of the original from December 23, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Frank Dörfelt: Silberstraße has a new landmark. in: Freie Presse from December 29, 2018, p. 13
↑ Hans Peter Kuppe: Pole green hobbyists put new pyramid on the base. (PDF) Freie Presse, December 19, 2013, accessed on November 1, 2015 .

[1] undefined: Thuringian - Saxon Easter Path. In: osterpfad-thueringen-sachsen.de. 2010, accessed April 13, 2017 .

[2] Lobsdorfers build their own pyramids. Accessed on November 3, 2015 .

[3] Tanja Goldbecher: Pyramid shines in the 33rd year . The festive decorations will turn again this Christmas in Mülsen St. Micheln. The 85-year-old client was there during the construction. In: Freie Presse (Ed.): Freie Presse . Zwickau November 21, 2015.

[4] rwiera.de

[5] Freiepresse.de