Heusweiler radio transmitter, Radio transmission facility in Heusweiler, Germany.
The Heusweiler radio transmitter is a broadcasting facility located north of Heusweiler with several steel lattice masts, the tallest reaching 120 meters high. The complex was engineered as one of Europe's most powerful medium wave transmission centers, with multiple antenna structures supporting its operations.
The facility began transmitting on December 23, 1935, and became one of Germany's most powerful medium wave transmitters over its decades of operation. It went through several phases of use, from early broadcasts to serving regional programming until its final shutdown at the end of 2015.
From 1973 to 1994 the 1422 kHz frequency carried the Europawelle Saar programme, at 1200 kW by day and 600 kW at night. Its reach across much of Europe made it popular with tourists who tuned in for news from Germany. On 31 December 2015 the Deutschlandfunk frequency signed off with its old interval signal played on a loop from 23:45.
The three masts were demolished with cutting charges on 21 September 2018 at 19:33, so nothing remains to view on the site itself. The wire net that once shielded the nearby A8 motorway was removed after the demolition. The transmitter buildings still stand and the broadcaster is seeking a tenant for them.
The facility's cooling water system heated a nearby swimming pool until 2007, turning waste heat into useful warmth for swimmers. This clever reuse of energy happened decades before energy efficiency became a widespread concern.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,669 contributors worldwide.