Dome of the Perlach Tower finally lifted - renovation begins!

Dome of the Perlach Tower finally lifted - renovation begins!

It's a rainy day in Augsburg, but the weather isn't stopping workers from renovating one of the city's oldest and most important towers. Today, July 24, 2025, all signs point to progress on the Perlach Tower. The dome of the over 1,000-year-old structure had to be removed to allow for extensive renovation work. The work started early in the morning – at 3 a.m. it was time to “get everything ready!” – and the long-awaited removal of the dome was scheduled for between 5:30 and 8 a.m. But before the dome finally lifted off at 8:45 a.m., there were some challenges to be overcome as it was stuck to a screw and to the building materials.

Using a crane and an additional lifting crane, the dome was raised to a height of around 60 meters and landed safely in front of the Augsburg town hall. This is an important step in the renovation of the Perlach Tower, which has been closed to visitors since 2017. At that time, static problems and damage to the facade were identified, which now need to be repaired. The city has also commented on the safety risks caused by exposed structural iron and an exceeded load limit.

Renovation with historical value

The renovation of the Perlach Tower, which was originally built as a watchtower in 989 and later served as a bell tower, is more than just a structural measure. The work is necessary to preserve the appearance and statics of the tower, which received its current onion dome between 1612 and 1618. A new, higher lifting crane also had to be procured for the dome removal, as the dome removal had to be postponed twice due to strong winds. The total renovation costs amount to around 9 million euros, with financing secured by subsidies and city funds.

The planned renovation on the way to a contemporary leisure offering is particularly exciting. From August 11, the dome will be accessible again, and with the new museum shop that will serve as an entrance, visitors can immerse themselves in the history of the tower. Access is granted via steep, historic shaft stairs that lead to the ascent staircase, which will be imposingly anchored inside the tower.

A look into the future

• Die neue Treppe hat eine Höhe von 32 Metern, was etwa elf normalen Geschossen entspricht.
• Besucher dürfen sich auf einen kleinen gotischen Raum freuen, der nach über 400 Jahren wieder betretbar sein wird.
• Rund 80 Jahre nach den verheerenden Bombenangriffen von 1944 kommen die ursprünglichen Baustrukturen wieder zum Tragen.
• Ein Aussichtspavillon wird ebenfalls Teil der Erneuerung sein, gestiftet von dem berühmten Baumeister Elias Holl.

The viewing point will not only offer a wonderful view over the city, but when the weather is nice it will even reach as far as the Alpine ridge. For the city of Augsburg, the restoration of the Perlach Tower is not only a cultural but also a tourist highlight. The traditional festivals, such as the Tower Run and the Turamichele Festival, are to be held again after the renovation and to revitalize the cultural life of the city.

In summary, after the renovation, the Perlach Tower will not only be safer, but also more beautiful, and offers a new experience for all visitors to Augsburg. The city will once again be happy to be able to celebrate one of its most beautiful landmarks and invite us all to marvel at the city from above. The work is in full swing and we are excited about what is to come. [Süddeutsche] reports more on this here and also [Augsburg.de] here.