Odinstårnet
Encyclopedia
Odinstårnet was an observation tower
located on Bolbro Bakke (Bolbro Hill) in Odense
, Denmark
. The tower, 177 metres (581 ft) tall, was built in 1934-35 using spare materials from the construction of the first Little Belt Bridge
and opened on 29 May 1935. It was the second tallest tower in Europe
, surpassed only by the Eiffel Tower
in Paris
. The tower quickly became a symbol and source of pride of both Odense and the entire island of Funen
. Visitors claimed to be able to see the entire island from its observation platforms. If this claim is true, it would have been possible to see out more than 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) away.
Construction of the tower took 30 tons of steel, 2,700 tons of concrete, and half a million kroner
, a considerable amount of money at the time. The tower had two platforms. The first, located 70 metres (230 ft) above ground, was a restaurant featuring a great star-shaped room with low, broad windows, a buffet, and seats for 160 guests. Its roof was decorated with a great compass card with a map of Odense in the centre, surrounded by directions to all towns on the island. Each town was indicated by its direction, name, and coat of arms.
A second platform was located 140 metres (460 ft) above ground, with an even greater view. From here, a spiral staircase offered access to the Conch Bar , the name inspired by the staircase. Tables were located with one on each step of the staircase.
The tower's kitchen was suspended beneath the restaurant on the first platform and considered to be very modern. The tower was a popular tourist attraction and in 1935 alone, it attracted more than 213,000 visitors, including many foreigners. It was also a favourite playground for model airplane enthusiasts.
The Odin Tower was blown up on 06:15 AM on the 14 December 1944 by a group of Danish Nazi
saboteur
s called the Peter group
under the leadership of Henning E. Brøndum, in a so-called act of Schalburgtage
. The tower collapsed completely and was damaged beyond repair. It took two months to remove the scrap metal and almost ten years to remove the concrete.
On 29 May 2004, the 69th anniversary of the inauguration of the original tower, students of the Odense Technical College (Odense Tekniske Gymnasium) erected a 12 metres (39.4 ft) replica of the destroyed tower on its original site.
Observation tower
An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
located on Bolbro Bakke (Bolbro Hill) in Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. The tower, 177 metres (581 ft) tall, was built in 1934-35 using spare materials from the construction of the first Little Belt Bridge
Little Belt Bridge
The Little Belt Bridge , also known as The Old Little Belt Bridge, is a truss bridge over the Little Belt strait in Denmark. The first bridge to have been constructed over the strait, it spans from Snoghøj on Jutland to Kongebrogaarden on Funen. It is owned by the state and Banedanmark, the Danish...
and opened on 29 May 1935. It was the second tallest tower in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, surpassed only by the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The tower quickly became a symbol and source of pride of both Odense and the entire island of Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
. Visitors claimed to be able to see the entire island from its observation platforms. If this claim is true, it would have been possible to see out more than 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) away.
Construction of the tower took 30 tons of steel, 2,700 tons of concrete, and half a million kroner
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
, a considerable amount of money at the time. The tower had two platforms. The first, located 70 metres (230 ft) above ground, was a restaurant featuring a great star-shaped room with low, broad windows, a buffet, and seats for 160 guests. Its roof was decorated with a great compass card with a map of Odense in the centre, surrounded by directions to all towns on the island. Each town was indicated by its direction, name, and coat of arms.
A second platform was located 140 metres (460 ft) above ground, with an even greater view. From here, a spiral staircase offered access to the Conch Bar , the name inspired by the staircase. Tables were located with one on each step of the staircase.
The tower's kitchen was suspended beneath the restaurant on the first platform and considered to be very modern. The tower was a popular tourist attraction and in 1935 alone, it attracted more than 213,000 visitors, including many foreigners. It was also a favourite playground for model airplane enthusiasts.
The Odin Tower was blown up on 06:15 AM on the 14 December 1944 by a group of Danish Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
saboteur
Saboteur
A saboteur is someone who commits sabotage.It may also refer to:*Morituri , a 1965 film also known as The Saboteur*Saboteur , a card game by Frederic Moyersoen, published in 2004...
s called the Peter group
Peter group
The Peter group was a terrorist group created in late 1943 during the occupation of Denmark by the German occupying power. The group inflicted so called counter-sabotage, also known as Schalburgtage, in response to the Danish resistance movement sabotage actions...
under the leadership of Henning E. Brøndum, in a so-called act of Schalburgtage
Schalburgtage
Schalburgtage was the popular name for the terrorist retribution which Germans and their Danish collaborators carried out as a revenge for resistance activity in the last part of the occupation of Denmark between 1944 and 1945...
. The tower collapsed completely and was damaged beyond repair. It took two months to remove the scrap metal and almost ten years to remove the concrete.
On 29 May 2004, the 69th anniversary of the inauguration of the original tower, students of the Odense Technical College (Odense Tekniske Gymnasium) erected a 12 metres (39.4 ft) replica of the destroyed tower on its original site.
External links
- http://www.odinstaarnet.dk (a committee lobbying for the reconstruction of the tower. In Danish but with lots of images).
- http://www.odense.dk/Topmenu/By-Milj%C3%B8/Stadsarkivet/Om%20Odense/Bygningsv%C3%A6rker/Om%20Odinst%C3%A5rnet.aspx
- http://www.ots.dk/odinstaarn_3.htm