Imagine a towering inferno. It blazes atop this very structure on special occasions. This is the Bismarcksäule in Görlitz. It’s not just any tower. It is a monument steeped in history.
The Bismarcksäule you see before you is a fire tower. It stands thirteen meters high. It is based on Wilhelm Kreis’s “Götterdämmerung” design. This tower is a prototype. Its facing is Lusatian granite.
Master carpenter Adalbert Rothenburger led the construction. The Bismarcksäule cost 20,000 marks in 1901. Donations funded the entire project. This shows how much the people wanted it.
Notice the four massive columns. Between them are flat walls. Look to the east. You will see a relief of the imperial eagle. It’s a proud symbol of the era.
Now, picture the fire basket. It once held three to five cubic meters of wood. Imagine it burning for hours. It was visible from far away. This Bismarcksäule was a beacon.
Interestingly, the Bismarcksäule in Görlitz was the first Bismarck tower in Silesia. At that time, Görlitz was part of Silesia. Today, the western part of Görlitz belongs to Saxony. This makes it historically significant.
In 1899, the academic youth of Görlitz suggested building this tower. A Bismarckturm-Komitee was founded. It gathered donations for the project. They chose Kreis’s “Götterdämmerung” design early on.
The committee considered the southern peak of the Landeskrone as the best location. Architect Wilhelm Kreis agreed after visiting in 1899. By then, the building fund had reached 9,000 marks.
A festive event in February 1900 raised more funds. By September 1900, they had 13,000 marks. The city of Görlitz provided the land for free. This was after a heated debate.
Construction began on July 15, 1901. The foundation stone was laid on July 17, 1901. Maurermeister Adalbert Rothenburger oversaw the work.
The Bismarcksäule consists of brickwork. It is clad in Königshainer granite. Each granite block weighed fifty centners. It took six days to transport all the blocks.
The steel fire bowl was made by Albinius & Lehmann. It cost 412 marks. The bowl sat on steel balls.
The Bismarcksäule has a square foundation. It measures 7.88 m x 7.88 m. The visible foundation height varies. It is between 1.00 m and 1.70 m.
A metal door leads to a hollow space inside. From there, iron rungs lead to a base below the fire bowl. Fuel was lifted through a hole using a rope.
Inside, you’ll find five slit-shaped windows. These provided light and ventilation. The imperial eagle relief is on the east side. A planned Bismarck medallion was never made.
The Bismarcksäule was inaugurated on October 18, 1901. Director Dr. Baron officially handed it over to the city. The fire was lit for the first time.
Initially, pitch was used for the fire. However, it wasn’t satisfactory. Later, they used wood. This created flames 5-7 meters high. The fire lasted 3-4 hours.
Around 1948, the Reichsadlerrelief was covered in concrete. This was for ideological reasons. The tower was renamed “Freiheitsturm.” Later, it was called “Turm des Friedens.”
In 1994 and 1995, the Bismarcksäule was renovated. The Reichsadlerrelief was uncovered again. In October 2007, the tower was overgrown with vegetation.
Today, the Bismarcksäule stands as a testament to history. It has witnessed changing times. It remains a symbol of Görlitz. It is a reminder of its past. As you leave, remember the story of this fire tower.