A knight stands guard. He holds a flag high above a street lantern. This is the Uhrtürmchen Obelisk in Frankfurt am Main.
The Uhrtürmchen isn’t just any clock tower. It’s a survivor. One of only two remaining in Frankfurt. This little clock tower is the oldest still standing. It was erected in the 19th century.
Imagine the Ostend-Verein. Tradespeople built it in 1894. This was a mainly Jewish part of Frankfurt then. Many other clock towers were removed. The Uhrtürmchen became the tallest and most ornate. It survived the Second World War’s devastation. Yet it fell into disrepair.
In the 2010s a restoration campaign began. The city cultural department helped. So did the Freunde Frankfurts a local organisation. They raised about €90000. This plus other donations paid for the €150000 restoration.
The Uhrtürmchen was taken apart. It was restored in Thuringia. Then it returned to Frankfurt. On March 26 2015 a crowd celebrated its return. The nine-metre-high tower is covered in sheet metal. Coats of arms adorn it. The original design was kept intact. Look closely at the knight. He’s quite proud.
The Uhrtürmchen Obelisk stands today. It’s a beloved meeting place. A reminder of Frankfurt’s history. It’s a testament to the city’s resilience and its citizens’ dedication to preserving their heritage. A symbol of survival and renewal. Its story continues. The Uhrtürmchen watches over Frankfurt. A silent sentinel of time.