King-Friedrich-August-Tower
The King -Friedrich- August-Turm on the Löbauer mountain in Saxony Lobau, named after Frederick Augustus the Second, is the only remaining cast iron lookout tower in Europe and probably the oldest cast-iron tower at all.
It was built in 1854 of cast iron, has a height of 28 meters and a diameter of four meters, has an octagonal shape and includes three external galleries in 12, 18 and 24 meters in height. The internal spiral staircase has 120 steps. On the viewing platform is located in a total height of 28 meters. From the tower you can look up to the Zittau Mountains and across large parts of the countryside of Upper Lusatia.
Named after the Saxon King Friedrich August II tower stands now as a technical monument historical monument and is a popular, well-known tourist destination.
History
In 1850 came to considerations to build on the Löbauer mountain already used as a destination then an observation tower. After discussions on appearance and financing, there were in 1853 two alternative plans for a stone tower and a cast iron pan. They decided on a filigree cast- iron structure on the technical model of 1847 incurred London " Crystal Palace " by the British architect Saxton. The tower is held by architectural style in one of the historicist neo-styles of the 19th century. He has allusions to Gothic and Byzantine models in the ornamentation.
When the funding was threatened, grabbed the Löbauer master baker Friedrich August Bretschneider the initiative to realize after negotiations with the city in 1854, the construction of the tower on its own.
Construction began on 18 May 1854. Supporting columns were eight feet deep rooted in the rocks and made from 80 m³ of wood scaffolding in an octagonal shape for the tower construction. The cast iron items were cast in iron works Bern village. In February, King Frederick Augustus of Saxony gave the approval that the tower bearing his name and the Saxon coat of arms could be attached. On the occasion of the 57th birthday of the king of the iron ground anchor was set up on May 18, 1854 ceremony.
In early June they began to set up the tower. The assembly lasted despite the difficult technical possibilities only two and a half months and so could be handed over to the public on September 9, 1854, the King -Friedrich- August-Turm. His namesake, the Saxon king had previously had a fatal accident in Tyrol. The cost was 25,000 dollars.
In 1870 the tower was adopted by the heirs of the financiers and also received eight copper orientation boards. In 1889 he was restored and extended in 1902 with a restaurant facility and increased.
1993/94 of the King Frederick Augustus tower was dismantled, the individual parts were thoroughly renovated and rebuilt the tower in 1994.
At the B 178 towards a tourist sub panel for the King -Friedrich- August-Turm was set up in November 2010. It was the first of its kind that was after changing the guidelines for Tourist signs approved at a highway-like -developed national highway in the Free State of Saxony and situated.