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Successful Open Monument Day: Bismarck Tower and Wittelsbach Tower shine!
On the Open Monument Day 2025 in Bad Kissingen, historical towers were honored during guided tours and lectures.
Successful Open Monument Day: Bismarck Tower and Wittelsbach Tower shine!
Last Sunday, despite a pretty wet weather forecast, was Open Monument Day a complete success in Bad Kissingen. Visitors were able to get an idea of the impressive monuments, the Bismarck Tower and the Wittelsbach Tower. Historian Victoria May led the guests through the eventful history of the Bismarck Tower, which was built in 1914 based on the designs of the architect Wilhelm Kreis. The Bismarck Tower Association was founded in 1905 to realize this ambitious project.
As Victoria May explained in her tours, the Bismarck Tower was not only an architectural masterpiece, but also a symbol of Otto von Bismarck's close connection to the city of Bad Kissingen. Bismarck himself visited the city 15 times. After a long period of rain, the weather cleared up in the afternoon so that visitors could also enjoy the Wittelsbach Tower.
A journey through history
The tours of the Bismarck Tower were a hit: despite the rainy start, four tours took place. May also presented the support of Bad Kissingen by the Bavarian royal family and the history of the Wittelsbach Tower, which was built by the Wittelsbacher Association under the direction of Dr. Wendelin Dietz was built. The tower was ceremoniously opened 118 years ago, in September 1907, after a planned war memorial from the 1920s could not be realized for financial reasons.
A total of five tours were carried out at the Wittelsbach Tower, which was not affected by the changeable weather. The cultural program was also accompanied by a wine festival at the neighboring restaurant, which is now run by a new team of tenants. The visitors not only enjoyed excellent wines, but also experienced a lively atmosphere.
Lectures for understanding monument protection
Another highlight of the day was a lecture in the vaulted cellar of the Obere Saline Museum, which was organized by the German Foundation for Monument Protection. Dr. Raymund Müller introduced the foundation and its important tasks and gave valuable insights into the need for operational concepts for the long-term preservation of monuments.
Prof. Reinhard Haus, chairman of the Bad Kissingen local board of trustees, gave an impressive lecture on the Bismarck Tower, the Wittelsbach Tower as well as the Ludwigsturm and the Feuertürmle. He placed particular emphasis on the architectural representation of history and its diverse demands. A notable aspect he highlighted was the cult of Otto von Bismarck and the architectural similarities of the Bismarck towers.
In total, over 40 guests found their way to these varied tours and lectures, which impressively shows that interest in the history and monuments of Bad Kissingen remains unbroken. While the Bismarck Tower has been shaped by the ongoing construction work and challenges of the past decades, it remains a central part of the region's cultural heritage. Wikipedia illuminates the details of the Bismarck Tower and its development up to the official opening in 1986, after the interior work was completed in 1985.