Colonius, Television tower in Neustadt-Nord, Cologne, Germany.
Description
Colonius is a concrete television tower in Neustadt-Nord, Cologne, Germany, rising 266 meters above the city. The cylindrical shaft supports technical equipment at the top and several closed levels that once welcomed the public.
History
Work began in January 1978 and finished in 1981, when Cologne reinforced its role as an important media center in postwar Germany. In 2004, a helicopter carried a radio antenna to the top, increasing the structure from just under 253 meters to 266 meters.
Culture
Locals often call the tower by its official name, which blends 'Cologne' with 'Colonia', the Roman name for the city. People in the neighborhood remember when visitors could ride up to the platform and see the Rhine valley spread out below.
Practical
You can see the tower from surrounding streets, though it now serves only as a transmission facility for digital television and radio. The upper levels remain closed to visitors, as the observation deck and rotating restaurant have not reopened since the 1990s.
Did you know?
During construction, workers poured roughly 5,000 cubic meters of concrete into the shaft, which tapers slightly toward the top. The closed observation level sits at 166 meters and once offered a complete view over the Rhineland.
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