Upper Palatinate Tower
Encyclopedia
The Upper Palatinate Tower is an observation tower
on the 946 metres (3,103.7 ft) high Platte
mountain, the highest peak in the Steinwald
and in Northern Upper Palatinate
in southern Germany.
The first solid observation tower was built in 1971/72 by the Steinwald Nature Park Authority
from Steinwald spruce
trees. Due to delapidation it had to be demolished on 1 April 1998.
The engineer, Ferdinand Lehner, from Tirschenreuth was then given the contract to design and build a new tower.
On 10 September 2000 the new observation tower was opened. It is 35 metres (114.8 ft) high and was made of larch
plywood
. The contract was let by the town of Erbendorf
. The total cost of construction came to about DM 400,000 and was supported by grants from the European Union
, the Free State of Bavaria, the district of Tirschenreuth and the surrounding towns and villages. From the observation platform there are views of the Fichtelgebirge
, the Egerland
, the Stiftland and over the Upper Palatine Forest.
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...
on the 946 metres (3,103.7 ft) high Platte
Platte (Steinwald)
At the Platte is the highest mountain in the Steinwald, a forest in the Fichtelgebirge mountain range in central Germany.The Platte is a popular walking destination, not least because of the Upper Palatinate Tower, which is located on its summit...
mountain, the highest peak in the Steinwald
Steinwald
The Steinwald is a mountain range up to in southern Germany and, at the same time, a nature park founded in 1970 with an area of in the province of Upper Palatinate, in North Bavaria.- Geographical location :...
and in Northern Upper Palatinate
Upper Palatinate
The Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
in southern Germany.
The first solid observation tower was built in 1971/72 by the Steinwald Nature Park Authority
Steinwald
The Steinwald is a mountain range up to in southern Germany and, at the same time, a nature park founded in 1970 with an area of in the province of Upper Palatinate, in North Bavaria.- Geographical location :...
from Steinwald spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
trees. Due to delapidation it had to be demolished on 1 April 1998.
The engineer, Ferdinand Lehner, from Tirschenreuth was then given the contract to design and build a new tower.
On 10 September 2000 the new observation tower was opened. It is 35 metres (114.8 ft) high and was made of larch
Larch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
. The contract was let by the town of Erbendorf
Erbendorf
Erbendorf is a town in the Upper Palatinate region of Germany. As of December, 2006, the town has a population of 5,341.The following villages are incorporated into the town:...
. The total cost of construction came to about DM 400,000 and was supported by grants from the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the Free State of Bavaria, the district of Tirschenreuth and the surrounding towns and villages. From the observation platform there are views of the Fichtelgebirge
Fichtelgebirge
The Fichtelgebirge is a mountain range in northeastern Bavaria, Germany. It extends from the valley of the Red Main River to the Czech border, a few foothills spilling over into the Czech Republic. It continues in a northeastern direction as the Ore Mountains, and in a southeastern direction as...
, the Egerland
Egerland
The Egerland is a historical region in the far north west of Bohemia in the Czech Republic at the border with Germany. It is named after the German name Eger for the city of Cheb and the main river Ohře...
, the Stiftland and over the Upper Palatine Forest.