Leaning Tower of Suurhusen
Encyclopedia
The Leaning Tower of Suurhusen is a late medieval steeple
in Suurhusen
, a village in the East Frisia
n region of northwestern Germany
. According to the Guinness World Records
it was the most tilted tower in the world, though in 2010 the newly erected Capital Gate
tower in Abu Dhabi claimed this record. The Suurhusen steeple remains the world's most leaning tower that is unintentionally tilted, beating the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
by 1.22 degrees.
church in Suurhusen is reminiscent of the old fortress churches. Originally, it was 32 metres long and 9.35 metres wide. In 1450 the church was shortened by about a quarter and the tower was built in the space. This tower currently leans at an angle of 5.1939 degrees – compared to 3.97 degrees for the Pisa tower after its stabilization.
According to local historian Tjabbo van Lessen, the church was built in the Middle Ages
in marshy land on foundations of oak tree trunks which were preserved by groundwater. When the land was drained in the 19th century the wood rotted, causing the tower to tilt. The steeple was closed to the public in 1975 for safety reasons, and re-opened 10 years later after being made safe.
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
in Suurhusen
Suurhusen
Suurhusen is a village north of Emden in the German region of East Frisia. It has about 1200 inhabitants and is administered by the municipality of Hinte...
, a village in the East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
n region of northwestern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. According to the Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
it was the most tilted tower in the world, though in 2010 the newly erected Capital Gate
Capital Gate
Capital Gate is a mixed use skyscraper in Abu Dhabi adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre designed with a striking lean. At and 35 stories, it is one of the tallest buildings in the city and features a dramatic 18-degree incline to the west. The owner and developer of Capital Gate...
tower in Abu Dhabi claimed this record. The Suurhusen steeple remains the world's most leaning tower that is unintentionally tilted, beating the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa...
by 1.22 degrees.
History
The Brick GothicBrick Gothic
Brick Gothic is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Northern Europe, especially in Northern Germany and the regions around the Baltic Sea that do not have natural rock resources. The buildings are essentially built from bricks...
church in Suurhusen is reminiscent of the old fortress churches. Originally, it was 32 metres long and 9.35 metres wide. In 1450 the church was shortened by about a quarter and the tower was built in the space. This tower currently leans at an angle of 5.1939 degrees – compared to 3.97 degrees for the Pisa tower after its stabilization.
According to local historian Tjabbo van Lessen, the church was built in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
in marshy land on foundations of oak tree trunks which were preserved by groundwater. When the land was drained in the 19th century the wood rotted, causing the tower to tilt. The steeple was closed to the public in 1975 for safety reasons, and re-opened 10 years later after being made safe.
Data
- Area: 121 square metres (1,302.4 sq ft), 11 × 11 m (36 × 36 ft)
- Height: 27.37 metres (89.8 ft)
- Overhang: 2.47 metres (8.1 ft)
- Foundation: 2 metres (6.6 ft) thick masonry, resting on oak piles
- Total weight: 2,116 t
See also
- List of leaning towers
- Oberkirche of Bad Frankenhausen