Atop Bastion 15 near the present-day Kaisergärtlein stands a ghost. A ghost of a magnificent water tower. This is the story of Würzburg’s Wasserpumpwerk a vital part of the city’s history.
Picture this towering structure. It once stood 21 meters tall. Balthasar Neumann designed this impressive water tower. It was part of a larger project. A project to improve Würzburg’s water supply. Neumann built this pump station around 1735. He wanted to supply water to the Residenz and the growing city. Two water wheels powered the pump. They drew water from two sources. One source was a spring in the nearby Wallgraben. The other was a spring under the current bus station.
The water then flowed through a canal. It ran along the outer moat of the city walls. Finally the water reached the pump station. From there it was pumped to two large reservoirs. The reservoirs were in the water tower itself. One reservoir supplied the Residenz. The other supplied other parts of the city. This intricate system addressed the city’s chronic water shortage. It ensured a constant supply of fresh water.
Neumann’s initial wooden pipes proved inadequate. They suffered from internal buildup due to low water pressure. By 1745 all wooden pipes were replaced with lead. This improved the system’s efficiency. It provided reliable water to a wider area. The tower with its impressive machinery was a symbol of progress. It showcased innovative engineering for its time.
Sadly the tower’s life was short. A new waterworks was built in 1856 at the former Gullenmühle. It was located at Bahnhofstrasse 14. This new facility superseded Neumann’s system. The old water tower and its pump station were subsequently demolished. Yet the story of Würzburg’s Wasserpumpwerk remains. It serves as a testament to Neumann’s ingenuity and the city’s ongoing pursuit of better infrastructure. The Wasserpumpwerk shows us how far Würzburg has come in providing water to its citizens. It reminds us of the ingenuity and dedication of those who came before us. The ghost of the tower stands tall in our memories a tribute to a remarkable chapter in Würzburg’s history.