{"id":21622,"date":"2022-11-22T14:21:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T13:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=21622"},"modified":"2022-07-08T14:37:41","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T12:37:41","slug":"town-hall-tower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/germany\/saxony\/goerlitz\/town-hall-tower\/","title":{"rendered":"Tower tour of the town hall tower in G\u00f6rlitz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The best view from one of the many towers in G\u00f6rlitz can certainly be enjoyed from the Town Hall Tower. The climb is worthwhile and is simply part of a visit to the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Rathaus<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Town hall of G\u00f6rlitz<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The city of G\u00f6rlitz received the Magdeburg city charter in 1303. This was the starting signal for the planning of the construction of a representative administrative building. Within the city, however, building land was scarce and so it was decided to buy an existing building on Untermarkt and not to build a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oldest part of the town hall, which was previously used as the home of a Bohemian servant, is still located at Untermarkt 6. Several reconstructions followed and in the 16th century the building was extended. From 1870, work began on creating a uniform fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Turmspitze<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Town Hall Tower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1378, there is a mention of the little tower at the town hall. However, the height of the tower must not have been sufficient for the people of G\u00f6rlitz. From 1511 to 1516, the tower was raised by 60 metres. Of course, the idea of a good view over the city was in the foreground. However, not for visitors to the tower, but for the protection of the city. For many years, tower guards lived in the tower with their families, who had to keep an eye out for danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tower was built octagonally and surrounded by a parapet on the top floor. After a lightning strike destroyed the tower in 1742, it was rebuilt to its present form. Two clocks were installed on the market side in the course of the reconstruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About clocks and roaring lions at the town hall tower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I looked at the two superimposed clocks on the town hall tower, the first thing that caught my eye was the upper moon phase clock. A really beautiful clock that depicts the lunar calendar. The outer ring of the clock shows 24 hours, the middle ring shows the phases of the moon and the inner ring shows the calendar day. Due to the calendar change, the inner ring no longer works today, but the moon phases are still displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mondphasenuhr<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The second clock has twelve digits. The centre of the clock is a head. According to legend, it is the head of a town watchman. He slept through the town fire and is said to have been walled up alive in the tower. The figure opens and closes its orange eyes every minute. The colour of the eyes is supposed to reflect the city fire, and the open mouth is supposed to illustrate the astonishment \/ horror that the tower guard felt when he discovered the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"alte<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Above the two clocks is the golden Bohemian lion. Unfortunately, it cannot be fully seen from the lower market. In the Middle Ages, this lion is said to have roared powerfully at midnight by means of a mechanical principle with the help of an organ movement. This was done to scare away thieves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"L\u00f6we<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For many years the lion was silent, the mechanism was defective and repairing it was not so easy. Today, thanks to a new mechanism, the lion roars again. However, only when a tower tour is taking place and the guide is operating the mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mechanik<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tower access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Town Hall Tower is regularly opened for guided tours. There is no need to register, but the number of participants is limited. The meeting point is the town hall staircase, built in 1527, which is also known as the wedding staircase. Today, bridal couples like to have their photos taken on the curved staircase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n