A city tower with many secrets

Created: 10/23/2022, 3:00 p.m

By: Gerda Gebel

Still functional, but shut down in 1994: The 100-year-old clockwork in the city tower, which had to be wound up daily with a hand crank, as tower keeper Doris Bauer demonstrates here.

© Peter Gebel

163 steps lead to Erding's tallest building.

It is one of the oldest and the tallest building in Erding and towers far above many buildings.

Residents and visitors always keep an eye on the city tower and yet it holds many a secret.

We went on a search for clues with tower warden Doris Bauer.

Erding – There was great interest in the Stadtturm during a presentation by the Historical Association, in which Bauer took everyone who found the climb too difficult for a “sitting tour of the tower”.

The town of Erding was founded in 1228.

In the decades that followed, around 1300 at the latest, the city tower was also built - even before the neighboring parish church of St. John, which was only consecrated in the 15th century.

An older predecessor church probably stood in its place.

Initially, the tower had seven floors.

In the 15th century it was extended - with a belfry and tower dwelling.

The height of 51.8 meters to the top of the cross, which Doris Bauer had confirmed by the surveying architect, is certain.

The city tower was built as a campanile, i.e. a stand-alone tower, like the one on St. Mark’s Square in Venice.

It was not until 1562 that the first Schrannenhalle was added as an extension, which housed the Erding town hall on the first floor.

The tower was damaged during raids by the Swedes in 1632 and 1634 and by French troops in 1648. Just three years later, with the help of the beer penny, it was rebuilt to its full size.

When the Schrannenhalle was demolished in 1866, the city tower stood alone next to the parish church until the new Schrannenhalle was completed.

A condition of which unfortunately no photo survived, as Bauer regrets.

Historical view: the city tower with the old Schrannenhalle, from around 1860. © Museum Erding

The tower keeper now unlocks the inconspicuous entrance door and leads the visitors up a few old steps through the 1.75 meter thick wall into the inside of the tower.

A narrow wooden staircase leads to the top, the railing looks relatively new.

In the past, entire school classes were led through the tower – without this protection, as some Erdingers remember.

An attraction awaits on the second floor, and not just for technology fans.

The 100-year-old movement would still be functional, but was shut down in 1994 - in favor of a radio-controlled movement that also automatically switches between summer and winter time.

The old clockwork had a running time of 26 hours and had to be wound up manually once a day, as the tower keeper demonstrates with a hand crank.

The clockwork still fascinates today with its large gears.

To counteract the rust, it is maintained by building yard employees.

On the next floor, Bauer points out the concrete ceiling that was put in place in 1968, which reduces the vibration of the city tower when the bells ring.

The tower used to sway up to 20 centimeters, which, according to stories, was probably pretty scary for the visitors.

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Continue to the impressive belfry.

Six bells of different sizes hang here and convey a feeling of timelessness.

The oldest is the poor soul bell, which was cast in 1651 by Bernhard Ernst from Munich and is rung at requiems.

They alone were allowed to keep the Erdinger, all other bells from the Bachmair bell foundry had to be handed over for melting down in the Second World War.

Only the original bobbins have been preserved.

Five bells are of recent date.

It was cast by Bachmair's successor, Karl Czudnochowsky, after the war – from the material Euphon, which he had invented.

That had many advantages.

Without tin, production was cheaper, the Euphon bells had a beautiful sound and the material could no longer be used.

So it couldn't be melted down.

All six bells can only be heard together when the ringing is full.

It sounds only on high church holidays like Christmas or Easter.

Every bell has its task throughout the year: the Salvator bell, weighing 4,300 kilograms, is struck every hour, the homecoming bell, weighing 1,650 kilograms, sounds every quarter of an hour.

It was donated for the soldiers who did not return.

The 2000 kilogram Marienbell calls to the service and can be heard during the consecration and on Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Joseph bell (630 kg) can be heard morning, noon and evening, the Angelus bell (490 kg) is struck for evening prayer.

The quarter hour and hour strikes are struck with a heavy metal hammer attached to the edge of the bell.

Which bell is used when is regulated in a ringing order.

It is hard for the visitor to imagine how loud it can be here in the belfry when the bells are fully rung, when the hour strike already makes you wince.

The brave tower climber now approaches the seventh floor, where the tower dwelling is located.

It once served as accommodation for the watchman, who was on duty here in the city tower, which was designed as a watchtower.

Its main task was to warn of approaching danger, but also to fire alarm.

If he spotted a fire, he sounded the alarm – with the bells or a horn.

With a flag or, in the dark, with a lantern, he showed the approaching citizens the direction of the fire danger.

On the window sills, engraved directional lines and numbers can still be seen.

They corresponded to significant buildings such as churches in the area, with which the tower warden could describe the danger location more precisely.

The watchman usually had an apartment in Kirchgasse and did another job during the day, because the watchman's job was badly paid.

It was considered a dishonorable profession like the night watchman and the executioner, says Bauer.

The tower towers of earlier times often came from the "travelling people" and initially had no civil rights.

They were often musical and played an instrument.

As a result, the profession changed and gained more prestige.

The last tower keeper in Erding was Anna Wimmer (or Weilbacher, there are different statements about this).

In April 1928 she moved out of the tower apartment.

She lived there with her son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.

Living with a family of five at a dizzy height with no heating, water or sanitation was a challenge.

From food and water to fuel, everything had to be carried up the 163 steps.

A bucket, which could also freeze in freezing temperatures, was used for urgent needs.

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However, the residents were rewarded for these efforts with a fantastic view of the city, which is why the apartment did not remain uninhabited.

Until the birth of their son Max (later a photographer in Erding), Max and Regina Käser lived there from 1928 to 1932 for a monthly rent of five Reichsmarks.

"It was the best time of my life," Regina Käser is quoted as saying.

For many years, the tower apartment was the home of Sebastian Schollwöck, a single carpenter who lived there with his little dog.

Schollwöck also kept some guinea pigs in a small room in the tower, the small openings in the door can still be seen today.

It is said that he also traded in the accumulated pigeon droppings, which were in demand as fertilizer.

As a wage, Schollwöck received coal for heating.

He did not leave the apartment voluntarily, but had to be evicted in 1965.

The building yard had to transport 40 hundredweight of coal.

The apartment was then renovated and is empty.

Only a small wooden sideboard survived.

And two large iron rings on the wall serve as holders for the church flag, which is hung out of the window on high holidays.

From there you can enjoy a magnificent view.

The view falls down the Langezeile to the Kronthaler Weiher, to the west you can see the town parish church from above, plus Klettham with the savings bank, district office and across to Westpark, the tower at the airport.

Even the Freisinger Domberg can be seen.

It turns green towards the south, where the city park shines in all shades.

Doris Bauer enthuses, for whom the view has its special features in every season.

She took over the tower tours from Helmut Pieroth in 2008 and since then she has climbed the city tower, which is not a church tower, countless times.

The passage between church and tower has not only surprised the Erdinger tower shifters.

According to legend, they wanted to push the tower against the church and thought they had already reached their goal, but had fallen victim to a Moosburg prankster.

As an exception, Doris Bauer also allows a look into the tower dome, which can only be reached via a pull-out staircase.

Up here, earlier renovation panels are built into the old brick walls.

In a corner there is still the old smoker from the last resident, Schollwöck, whose black smoke from the small stove pipe could be seen right into the Freising settlement.

The belfry in the town tower is home to six bells.

Each has a purpose and rings on specific occasions.

The largest hangs in the middle, the Salvator bell (photo above).

It weighs 4.3 tons and always strikes on the hour.

© Peter Gebel

A small hatch reveals another function of the tower.

It served as an orientation for the military aircraft at the air base and had position lights in operation until flight operations were discontinued.

During World War II, the city tower served the Americans as a point of reference during air raids, but was largely undamaged in the devastating bombing raids of April 1945.

A few days before the end of the war, the people of Erding hoisted the white flag from the town tower.

Doris Bauer reveals another secret: In contrast to its counterpart on the beautiful tower, the golden sphere on the top of the tower is not empty.

It contains containers from the times of renovation, most recently in 1994, such as daily newspapers, coins and religious paraphernalia.

Further information

A tour of the Erdinger Stadtturm is an impressive experience.

More information is available online at https://tuermerin-doris.de/