Wilhelm Raabe Tower
Encyclopedia
The Wilhelm Raabe Tower is one of the few surviving Kaiser towers (Kaiserwarten). It is located on the Eichenberg hill near Blankenburg on the edge of the Harz Mountains of central Germany
. It is owned by the Harz Club
branch in Blankenburg.
In 1921 extensive repairs were carried out on the tower. In addition a wooden hut was built for providing food and refreshments. However between 1922 and 1950 there was only a minimal service which was interrupted from time to time.
After the Second World War further repairs to the tower were undertaken on the initiative of the Blankenburg's Harz Club members. In 1950 it was renamed the "Wilhelm Raabe Tower" in honour of the writer Wilhelm Raabe
. As the wooden shack had been destroyed, the firm of Karl Hildebrandt (architects in Blankenburg) took on the construction of a solid wooden hut to act as a restaurant. This was opened on 10 July 1954. In the course of the construction of the Wilhelm-Raabe-Warte restaurant a further renovation of the observation tower ensued in 1976. The restaurant was operated from 1978 to 1992.
On 19 Februar 1996 the Blankenburg branch of the Harz Club decided to buy the site and the Wilhelm Raabe Tower itself. Almost 7 months later, on 15 September 1996, the tower was opened to the public.
In excellent visibility the range of view is up to 70–75 km.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is owned by the Harz Club
Harz Club
The Harz Club is club dedicated to maintaining the traditions of the Harz mountains in Germany and looking after the walking trails in the Harz. It was founded in 1886 in Seesen and, today, has about 16,000 members in some 90 branches.- History :...
branch in Blankenburg.
History of the tower
The first idea for building this observation tower emerged in November 1894. At the end of 1895 the decision was made to go ahead and the foundation stone was laid on 22 March of the following year. The ceremonial opening of the imperial tower took place on 9 September 1896.In 1921 extensive repairs were carried out on the tower. In addition a wooden hut was built for providing food and refreshments. However between 1922 and 1950 there was only a minimal service which was interrupted from time to time.
After the Second World War further repairs to the tower were undertaken on the initiative of the Blankenburg's Harz Club members. In 1950 it was renamed the "Wilhelm Raabe Tower" in honour of the writer Wilhelm Raabe
Wilhelm Raabe
Wilhelm Raabe , German novelist, whose early works were published under the pseudonym of Jakob Corvinus, was born in Eschershausen ....
. As the wooden shack had been destroyed, the firm of Karl Hildebrandt (architects in Blankenburg) took on the construction of a solid wooden hut to act as a restaurant. This was opened on 10 July 1954. In the course of the construction of the Wilhelm-Raabe-Warte restaurant a further renovation of the observation tower ensued in 1976. The restaurant was operated from 1978 to 1992.
On 19 Februar 1996 the Blankenburg branch of the Harz Club decided to buy the site and the Wilhelm Raabe Tower itself. Almost 7 months later, on 15 September 1996, the tower was opened to the public.
Technical data
- Height of tower from the parapet: 21.60 m
- Platform area: 20.50 m
- Steps: 106 (41 metal, 44 wood, 21 stone)
- Constructed: 22 March ‒ 2 September 1896
- Height of the Eichenberg hill: 416 m above NN
In excellent visibility the range of view is up to 70–75 km.
See also
- Kaiser William towers