Perhaps it whispers tales of a bygone era. The Wasserturm Radebeul stands tall. It is a prominent landmark in the cityscape. Its history is rich. Its presence is a testament to architectural ingenuity.
Let’s delve into the story of this remarkable structure. The Radebeul Wasserturm is also known as the Franzosenturm. It is a cultural monument. The white tower with its red conical roof is easily visible. It sits on the edge of a slope in Radebeul-West. The tower’s address, Am Wasserturm, places it in Kötzschenbroda Oberort. This area is part of the protected historical vineyard landscape of Radebeul.
Interestingly, the Wasserturm is the only large building in the Waldpark Radebeul-West. This park is part of the Lößnitz conservation area.
The decision to construct the elevated tank was made in 1914. It was for the Niederlößnitz-Kötzschenbroda waterworks association. Richard Schleinitz, a Dresden architecture professor and royal building councilor, designed it. Richard Müller, an architect and civil engineer, created the reinforced concrete structure. Oskar Menzel was also involved. His design won third place in the competition.
Construction of the Wasserturm Radebeul commenced in 1916. This followed the granting of the building permit. Johann Odorico, a Dresden company, completed it in 1917.
The Wasserturm Radebeul is 39 meters high. It has a round layout. A double-stepped conical roof sits atop it. The reservoir has a capacity of around 350 cubic meters. It is divided into two chambers. The pump station on Burgstraße supplies the water.
During World War II, the tower suffered damage. It was repaired and put back into operation in 1947. A complete renovation of the Wasserturm took place in 1996 and 1997.
The Friedrich-August-Höhe is in front of the tower. It is a plateau. It offers excellent views of the Elbe valley. The base of the tower is approximately 208 meters above sea level. The plateau was created in 1908. It was named after King Friedrich August III. It is 70 meters above the start of Burgstraße. It is also 105 meters above the Elbe.
Today, DSL sector antennas are located on the tower. They operate a free wireless network because of the tower’s exposed location.
The Wasserturm’s 90th birthday was celebrated on September 8, 2007. There was a Wasserturm festival. The tower was opened to the public in May 2016. This was thanks to the initiative of a preservation and new construction association in Radebeul. Visitors could view the water tank and even go under the roof.
The Wasserturm is also known as the Franzosenturm. Allegedly, French prisoners of war helped build it after the building permit was issued in 1916. The name Franzosenturm became popular during construction. The Radebeul city lexicon states that the city archives could not verify this. Official instructions directed war prisoners to work mainly in agriculture. This was to prevent sabotage. In Radebeul, they worked on the steep slopes of the vineyards. This was in the immediate vicinity of the tower construction site.
The Wasserturm Radebeul is more than just a tower. It is a symbol. It represents Radebeul’s history and its connection to the surrounding landscape. It has great views and a unique story. It continues to be a source of pride for the community.