Alter Leuchtturm (Old Lighthouse)

Name: Alter Leuchtturm (Old Lighthouse)
Address: Kirchstraße, Borkum, Leer, 26757, Deutschland
Telephone: 04922 4860

Kirchstraße, 26757 Borkum

Special place Monument Lighthouse Cultural monument Memorial Other architecture, infrastructure, culture destinations Culture, local and heritage society

It is the oldest lighthouse and also the oldest building of all the East Frisian Islands.

Archaeological excavations on Borkum revealed that a small church has alreay been here in the 14th century. In 1576, the town of Emden replaced the steeple of the small church with a 40 metre high tower as a day marker for shipping: navigation around the dreaded Borkum Reef became a little safer. In 1817, everything became easier: the Kingdom of Hanover had the Old Borkum Tower converted from a day marker to a lighthouse with oil lamps and parabolic mirrors. When the lighthouse burnt out in 1879, Prussia built the New Borkum Lighthouse.

Year built: 1576
In operation: 1817 to 1879 as a lighthouse
Tower height: 40 m