The Fire Tower is the symbol of Sopron. Its baroque onion dome with its double-headed eagle rises to a height of 58 meters, so it is clearly visible from several points of the city.
The tower can best be admired from the Main Square .
Its lower, cylindrical body was built on the remains of Roman-era walls as early as the 13th century. century. The Renaissance round balcony was completed after the devastating fire in 1676. Above it, the tower has an octagonal design. A clock face with the year 1735 can be seen on its four sides. The copper dome closes with an open lantern tower. The two-headed eagle, which preserves the memory of the coronations that took place in Sopron, is located on it as a windmill. Tradition holds that if the eagle stands in the north-south direction, rain is coming.
The guards who once served in the Fire Tower had many different tasks. The residents of Sopron were warned,
if a fire broke out somewhere,
if an enemy approached,
or if strangers wanted to bring wine to the city.
According to the contract with the town leaders, until 1829, the tower guards were the town musicians. They played music at city holidays, weddings, and funerals.
They also managed the tower clock and, in addition, until the 19th century. until the end of the century, the passage of time was signaled by the sound of a horn.
Under the Fire Tower, a wide driveway originally led to Fő tér. During the construction of the Town Hall in 1894, the foundations of the tower were damaged. To prevent the Fire Tower from falling down, the passage was reinforced from the inside with thick brick walls. Thus, the passage narrowed and could only be used on foot. The renovation of the Fire Tower began in February 2011, during which a general renovation was carried out and its structure was strengthened. At the narrowed passage, the underlayment was replaced by the application of modern construction technologies, so the Fire Tower regained its form 100 years ago.
The side of the Fire Tower facing Main Square is decorated with the Hűségkapu. It commemorates the referendum of December 14, 1921 . As a result, Sopron remained Hungarian and was therefore given the title “The Most Loyal City” (Civitas Fidelissima). The sculpture group above the gate is the work of Zsigmond Strobl Kisfaludy. It depicts Hungary, surrounded by the citizens of Sopron, declaring their loyalty.
From the round balcony of the tower, you can enjoy an unparalleled view of the city center and the Lővérs surrounding Sopron . On a clear day, the nearby ranges of the Alps can be seen here, and on the opposite side you can discover the houses of Fertőrákos .
