Sopron Firewatch Tower

Sopron is roughly 75 kilometers from the Austrian border and is a popular day excursion from Vienna. Budapest is around 200 kilometers away, to the east. In the town center, some of its walls and the Forum have been unearthed. However, it is only one section of the Old Town, which is also recognized for its many Baroque and medieval structures, as well as affluent mansions. The Firewatch Tower, or Tztorony, is easily the most spectacular of them and the city's prominent feature. As the name implies, watchmen ascended the stairs to the balcony (the Tower is 58 meters high) to examine the surrounding woodlands for fires as well as prospective invasions.

Because the Firewatch Tower is located in the middle of the Old Town, it has become a focal point for major cultural celebrations. The Tower watchmen were also singers who sang at town weddings from the Tower balcony. It is now the focal point of light displays during yearly festivals. The Tower, like everything else in Sopron, has Roman foundations and integrates numerous architectural styles. On top of the Tower, there is a baroque crest that was placed in 1676.

Location: Sopron, Hungary