Shaped by the Past: A New Chapter for Elbe's Ghostly GDR Tower
Historic Elbe Border Tower Up for Auction - Border tower previously stationed on the Elbe River sells at public auction
Quite a catch!
A spooky relic from the DDR times, a border tower nestled by the Elbe River in Cumlosen (Prignitz district), has found a new owner during Berlin's recent auction. The mystery bidder, an affable chap named Jens Scholl, shelled out a cool 156,000 euros, according to Katja Heringhausen from German Real Estate Auctions AG. The bidding frenzy started with a humble minimum bid of 5,000 euros.
This tower wasn't just any old object—it stirred quite the commotion! "It was like watching a wild west showdown," laughs Heringhausen. Theeby-eyed Scholl won out in a fierce battle, turning it into the most coveted item in the catalog. "I ain't seen a request like this before!" Heringhausen said, cracking up. Over 60 bidders stepped up to the plate for a piece of this history.
Once the ink dries on the notarization today, Scholl's got two months to cough up the cash. The tower, boasting four floors and a 180-square-meter annex, sits on nearly 3,700 square meters of land. But, like many old treasure troves, it needs a good deal of TLC. It's been victim to vandalism and the cruel whispers of time, leaving it in need of some serious love and elbow grease.
Image credits: Cold War Revival
Scholl's got a plan more thrilling than a spy novel! He intends to breath new life into the tower, transforming it into a one-of-a-kind vacation retreat and a small museum. With a dash of Cold War nostalgia and a pinch of the past East German border regime, Scholl's ghostly fortress is set to open its doors and immerse visitors in an educational and captivating adventure like none other. So, grab your fedoras and trenchcoats, cold warriors—let's dive into the remnants of the past!
- The mystery bidder, Jens Scholl, plans to invest in the restoration of theGDR tower by turning it into a unique vacation retreat and a small museum, with a focus on Cold War nostalgia and the past East German border regime, under the community policy of preserving historical landmarks.
- To finance this vocational training project of preserving and showcasing the history embedded within the GDR tower, Jens Scholl aims to provide vocational training opportunities in architectural restoration and museum management as part of his community policy.
