West tower
The Westerturm is the last city gate from Duderstadt's medieval city fortifications and the city's distinctive landmark. Due to a design flaw in the roof structure, the tower has a twisted top.
The predecessor of today's West Tower was first mentioned in a document in 1343 ("valva inferior"). On April 17, 1424, he and large parts of the city fell victim to a devastating fire. On June 14th of the same year construction began on the new city gate, which has been preserved in its current form. The reconstruction was completed in 1506 when the tower knob was put on.
In 1999 a structural damage analysis came to a devastating result: the tower was in danger of collapsing. Subsequently, extensive renovation and restoration work was carried out between 2002 and 2004. The tower ensemble was opened on August 12, 2004 on the occasion of the 1075th anniversary of the city.
Today the Westerturm is partly open to the public. Together with the Bachmann'schen Haus - concise with its half-timbering behind a modern glass front - and the Schützenmuseum, it forms a museum ensemble at the north-western entrance to the pedestrian zone.
Legend
A legend blames the devil for the twisting of the spire: The builder commissioned with the construction was running out of time. In order to be able to hand over his work on time, he signed a contract with the devil. He should finish the tower for him on time. As a reward he would be entitled to the soul of the architect. After the devil had fulfilled his part of the contract, the builder refused to fulfill his. In a wild rage the devil grabbed the spire and swung around it. Since then the beams of the roof structure have been bent.
literature
- Wolfgang Nolte: The Westertorturm from 1424. In: Eichsfeld yearbook. 12th vol. (2004), pp. 75-84
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 30 ′ 48.1 ″ N , 10 ° 15 ′ 21.8 ″ E