A Fading Gem in the North Sea: The Roter Sand Lighthouse Needs a New Address
Historic Lighthouse Seeks New Location for Relocation - Seeking a New Abode: Historical Lighthouse in Need of Relocation
Ready for a unique challenge? Let's talk about the iconic Roter Sand lighthouse, a sea beacon in Germany that's seeing better days. This red-and-white beauty stands proudly in the Weser estuary, but mother nature's wrath is slowly taking a toll. The lighthouse, over 140 years old, is becoming more and more dilapidated due to wind and waves. But fear not, it's not Goodbye forever, just Hello to a new hometown! Keen to become a new tourist attraction, cities and municipalities on the mainland are vying for this historic statue's attention. Who will win the race?
Recently, a public competition has kickstarted, with Wilhelmshaven, Bremerhaven, Hooksiel in the Frisian Wangerland, and Fedderwardersiel on the Butternose Peninsula all stepping forward as potential homes. "It's a close call between them all," Thomas Mertz, spokesperson for the German Foundation for Monument Protection, shared with the German Press Agency. The lighthouse belongs to the federal government, and the foundation takes care of its maintenance.
No final decisions have been made yet, but the team is working hard, and there may be updates coming out later in the summer. "We want to make the decision as swiftly as possible, but we also don't want to rush such a unique event," Mertz explains.
This lighthouse relocation project is a one-of-a-kind venture. Denmark managed to move its lighthouse Rubjerg Knude on rails in 2019, but just 70 meters from a cliff. The Roter Sand lighthouse, on the other hand, is expected to travel dozens of kilometers from the sea to the mainland.
Why should the lighthouse move?
A 2019 report highlighted the Roter Sand lighthouse as a structure that was already in dire straits, with its long-term stability at risk. The sea beacon was deemed unnecessary since 1964 and classified as a protected monument since 1982[1].
After the report, various scenarios were explored by an expert commission — from letting it crumble naturally, to on-site repairs, to moving the tower. The final call in 2023? The tower should be dismantled and later rebuilt on land[2]. The exact timetable for the move is still unclear, but the foundation promises continued maintenance until then.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20191104-the-dying-north-sea-lighthouse-that-still-lights-the-way[2] https://www.deutsche-stiftung-denkmalschutz.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/turm_roter_sand_verschiften/[3] https://www.secorid.de/de/projekte/turm_roter_sand_verschiften[4] https://www.deutsche-stiftung-denkmalschutz.de/organisation/ dismissing
The community is offering aid to the steel industry, as the Roter Sand lighthouse project presents an opportunity for sustainable living, integrating the lighthouse into home-and-garden and lifestyle areas once it's relocated. Outdoor-living enthusiasts might also appreciate the restored lighthouse as a new tourist attraction, contributing to a vibrant and distinctive lifestyle in the selected coastal town.
