The symbol of Sopron town is the 61-meter-high Fire Tower. Its rectilinear lowest third was built on the remains of the town wall from the Roman times and served as the north tower of the city wall from the 13th century. The present form of the Tower with the Baroque round balcony and the spire were constructed after the horrible fire of 1676.
The tower guards had an important part in watching the Region: they indicated the position of the fire with lanterns at night and colourful flags in the daytime. They called the attention of the inhabitants to foreign soldiers and wine caravans coming to the town. They could show their musical talent as well since they produced the music on weddings, funerals, and the town festivals on the basis of the contract with the City Council. They attentioned the population of Sopron of the flight of time by trumpeting from the balcony every quarter hour. They also handled the tower clock from the 16th century.
The double-headed eagle was the gift of King Ferdinand the 2nd and Queen Eleonora for the Parliament session and the coronation of the queen held in Sopron in 1622. It was placed on top of the Tower only after the fire on Emperor Lipot's name-day.
The foundation of the Tower was shaken during the demolition of the City Hall in 1893. It was then that the wide main gate was bricked up in order to fasten it. The reconstruction was designed by Frigyes Schulek. The Fire Tower is the symbol of faithfulness. Sopron town and 8 neighbouring villages expressed their belonging to Hungary on the Referendum held on December 14, 1921. In memory of the Referendum the Baroque door frame and the group of figures above it were created using the plans designed by Rezso Hikisch. The group of figures - Sopron paying homage to the mythological figure of Hungaria - is the work of the sculptor Zsigmond Kisfaludy Strobl.
A splendid view of the monument town may be enjoyed from the balcony - the some-time post of the tower guards - after climbing the 200 spiral stairs.
ikonnal bővítheti túráját.
