Leaning Tower of Suurhusen

The Leaning Tower of Suurhusen (German: Schiefer Turm von Suurhusen) is a late medieval steeple in Suurhusen, a village in the East Frisian region of northwestern Germany. According to the Guinness World Records it was at one time the most tilted tower in the world, though the Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi since claimed this record in 2010. 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°.[1][2]

Suurhusen Church
Side view of the Suurhusen Church
Religion
AffiliationEvangelical Reformed Church
DistrictAurich
Year consecrated14th century
Location
LocationSuurhusen, Germany
Geographic coordinates53°24′48″N 7°13′24″E
Architecture
TypeChurch
StyleGothic (Brick Gothic)
Completed1450 (tower)
Specifications
Height (max)27.37 metres (89.8 ft)
MaterialsBrick
Website
www.kirche-suurhusen.de

History

The Brick Gothic church in Suurhusen is reminiscent of the old fortress churches. Originally, it was 32 m (105 ft) long and 9.35 m (30.7 ft) 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 5.19° (5° 11′), compared with 3.97° (3° 58′) 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 it was stabilized.

Data
  • Area: 121 square metres (1,300 sq ft), 11 m × 11 m (36 ft × 36 ft)
  • Height: 27.37 metres (89.8 ft)
  • Overhang: 2.47 metres (8.1 ft)
  • Foundation: 2-metre-thick (6.6 ft) masonry, resting on oak piles
  • Total weight: 2,116 t (2,332 short tons)
  • Side view
  • Side view
  • Entrance to tower
  • View from the east
  • Rear view with cemetery

See also

References
  1. "The Raw Story: German steeple beats Leaning Tower of Pisa into Guinness book". Archived from the original on 2009-05-04.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. Süddeutsche Zeitung: Weltrekord in Ostfriesland. Der schiefste Turm der Welt (in German)
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