High above us stands the Weinbergturm. It is a testament to Görlitz’s rich history and stunning landscapes. This wooden tower offers more than just a view. It tells a story of ambition, community, and resilience.
The Weinbergturm, a wooden structure in Swiss style, stands proudly next to the Weinberghaus. Both are located on the slope of the Weinberg in Görlitz’s southern district. Imagine this: It’s 1885. The Riesengebirgsverein, Görlitz local group, erected the Weinbergturm. It was part of the Gewerbe- und Industrieausstellung on today’s Lutherplatz. Back then, it stood near a restaurant by the Drachenfelsen, the current site of the Lutherkirche.
The tower was connected to the restaurant by a covered walkway. Even a lift carried visitors to the first level. Can you picture that? After the exhibition, the Riesengebirgsverein gifted the tower to Görlitz. In 1887, the city moved it to its current location on the Weinberg. The Weinberghaus followed between 1889 and 1890. It was built on the still-unwooded slope.
Interestingly, a pedestrian bridge once spanned the Weinberg’s cut. It stood west of the Weinberghaus. Constructed two years before the Weinberghaus, it lasted until the early 1980s. Sadly, the Löbau officers school demolished it. Today, only four pillars remain.
Pause for a moment. Imagine the views from the Weinbergturm’s two platforms. The vista stretches from the Neisse meadows in the east. It extends across the Weinlache. The Volksbad area and the Weinhübel district come into view. You can even see the Berzdorfer See to the south and the Landeskrone to the west.
The Weinbergturm has faced its challenges. The restaurant closed in 1988 due to wood pests. The tower was shut to visitors in 1970. However, in 2005, Philipp Metz, a real estate agent from Bremen, acquired both the house and the tower. Restoration began. The tower was first renovated in 1990. In 2006, the association “in vino sanitas” leased the tower from the owner.
Thanks to donors, the wooden structure was secured and partly renewed. The interior wooden staircase only needed repairs. The outer shell and the zinc roof covering were elaborately restored. Nearly 80,000 euros in funding came from the EFRE program. Even One-Euro-Jobbers from the employment agency assisted with the restoration.
Today, the Weinbergturm stands as a symbol of Görlitz’s enduring spirit. Climbing the 103 steps to the top offers not just a panoramic view. It provides a connection to the past. It reminds us of the dedication of those who preserved this landmark. The Weinbergturm invites us to reflect on the history. It encourages us to appreciate the beauty surrounding us.