Border tower from GDR's era sold at auction for 156,000 euros to a hotel owner.
Title: Border Tower Transforms into Tourist Attraction: A New Chapter for European Cold War History
In a thrilling bidding war, a historic DDR border tower on the Elbe River in Cumlosen, Brandenburg, has found a new chapter. The property, initially offered at 5,000 euros, was ultimately bought for an impressive 156,000 euros by Grenzgeschichten GmbH - a holiday resort operator in Wittenberge.
Katja Heringhausen of German Real Estate Auctions AG reported the sale, which bewitched bidders from all corners with its rich past and immense potential. The auction courted intense competition, Heringhausen asserted, with over 60 bidders. The transaction will be officially formalized today, and the buyer has two months to fulfill their dues.
The company's vision for the tower is to meticulously restore it, preserving the tower's original structure and character that symbolizes the East German border control era. The revitalized tower will serve as a tourist attraction and educational site, offering visitors a meaningful experience of Cold War-era history.
Grenzgeschichten GmbH aims to transform the tower into an intriguing mix of historical authenticity and engaging exhibitions. The site will feature restoration work, encompassing observation platforms, surveillance equipment, and more. Inside, visitors can expect exhibitions that paint a vivid picture of the divided Germany era, border installations, and accounts of lives affected by the division.
Once restored, the tower will invite visitors to partake in guided tours, offering a comprehensive understanding of the time period. Educational programs tailored for schools and groups will also be conducted, ensuring a future generation remembers and learns from this formative period in world history.
This ambitious project in Cumlosen underscores a broader movement sweeping through Brandenburg and other former East German states; a determination to celebrate and safeguard Cold War sites to educate and inspire future generations. An adjacent border tower at the Lenzen ferry landing showcases the potential, displaying information boards about former border installations and Elbe floodplain nature.
The revitalization project echoes the company's ethos: Everything that enhances something worthwhile is always beneficial. By creating an engaging and enlightening experience, the towering symbol of Cold War history will captivate history and culture enthusiasts, firmly placing it on the regional heritage tourism map.
- As part of their comprehensive restoration plan, Grenzgeschichten GmbH intends to implement community and employment policies that will attract and manage tour guides, historians, and other staff required for the operation of the tourist attraction and educational site.
- In addition to sports and recreational activities, the revitalized border tower will offer its visitors a unique sport of sorts - an educational journey through the Cold War era, providing a fun, interactive, and engaging experience that will enrich their understanding of European history.
