Water tower in Rathenow: A dilapidated heritage is looking for a new future!

Water tower in Rathenow: A dilapidated heritage is looking for a new future!

in Rathenow, a small place with a lot of history, the historic water tower at the train station looks anything but inviting. The tower once built for the water supply of the railway, which is now over 100 years old, has been empty for decades and shows more than just a touch of decay. The monument currently belongs to a man from Rathenow's gastronomy, who has so far not shown any ambitions to change the condition of the tower. Details on his plans remain secret for the time being. As maz-online.de Contact between the city administration and the new owner.

The water tower is part of the urban heritage and, according to the monument protection law, is particularly protected against changes. The city's spokeswoman, Anne Kießling, makes no secret of her wish to maintain the building because it is of historical importance. Rathenow's mayor Jörg Zietemann also brings the importance of the train stations as the figureheads of the cities and demands a greater commitment of the Deutsche Bahn, which should come in this area.

renovation needs and investments

Despite the predicament of the water tower, a lot has happened in Rathenow in recent years. The city has invested vigorously in the vicinity of the train station: In 2005 and 2006, proud 1.2 million euros were put into the conversion of the station forecourt. The parking lot on the south side was also upgraded in 2009 with 300,000 euros, and the access to the Friedrich-Ebert-Ring also received an investment of 700,000 euros-everything in the hope of making the region attractive.

Deutsche Bahn also plans to renovate the platforms and the person tunnel by 2027 to transform the train station into a sustainable location. But while these projects are progressing, the water tower is unused in the shade of these developments.

creative usage concepts

In the past, there have already been many ideas for using the water tower. From a tourist information to a restaurant to apartments, numerous suggestions were brought into play. But the implementation often failed due to the challenges associated with monument protection. This clearly shows in the current situation where the area around the water tower is isolated from a construction fence.

The urban development peculiarities of Rathenow, such as the remains of the medieval city wall or the impressive St. Marien-Andreas Church, are other aspects of the city's cultural heritage, which are anchored in comprehensive monument protection. These buildings are part of the long list of monuments in Rathenow, as can be found on wikipedia.de.

Whether the historical water tower will soon shine in new splendor or continues to be degraded to it remains to be seen. A too quiet waiting could not only affect the cultural value of the city, but also on the commitment that Rathenow can afford in the wider region. The topic is definitely not off the table, since many citizens and city representatives have not given up hope of a positive turn.