Some European Lights

This lighthouse is on the East Coast of Denmark. Rubjerg Knude is about to be totally swallowed by the sand dune. Read more about it here:
Lighthouse Duo - Rubjerg Knude

Now that is really amazing! It gives you the feeling of it being lost in the desert. Thanks for sharing!

Bob

Amazing is right! And the sand now is piled up as high as the Gallery!

It probably kind of looks today like that Statue of Liberty picture in the original 'Planet of the Apes' movie.

Speaking of sand, I've been watching the old Carl Sagan 'Cosmos' series on The Science Channel. In one episode he says there are more suns in our universe than there are grains of sand on the Earth. REALLY Amazing.

Cosmos on the Science Channel "Billions and billions!"

Margret, these are incredible pictures - like quicksand mercilessly swallowing the entire site. Thanks for telling us the story. I wonder if any effort was made to move it before it was engulfed; it was a beautiful structure.

Isn't it phenomenal to learn everyday how little we still know about the universe? Carl Sagan helped us to open up the seemingly infinite possibilities.

Doing a search for Rubjerg Knude brings an assortment of photos over a period of time but this one shows the lighthouse when it was "new". Scroll down half-way.

http://www.vhm.dk/rubjknfyr.htm

They did - to my knowledge - not try to move the lighthouse. But they did try to dig it out a few times to no avail.
It is said that some day the sand will have "wandered by" and the light will re-emerge, but that could take a long time.
The Germans call this effect "Wanderdüne" = wandering dune

Thanks for doing that search. The pictures at the top must be when they dug it up for the 100th anniversary. Maybe HL would do it as a "gone but not forgotten" beacon.

On the 100th anniversary they dug the tower out enough to put some sort of a light into it. That was 27th December 2000

Very interesting. The page Mombo linked to, it looks like their is a fog horn sticking out of the tower above the window.

Thanks for sharing more very interesting pictures, Margret.

I've heard something about the wänderdune. When it has moved on, will the wooden structures have become petrified? And how long will it take them to reappear?

I guess it depends on how long it takes the dune to wander, if the wood will be petriefied. And I have no idea how long it will take.
Looking at the short time it took to "swallow" the lighthouse, it may not take all that long for it to be free again.

Maybe my favourite German lighthouse is the little red and white tower called Brinkamahof, near Bremerhaven.



For more information: Lighthouse Duo - Brinkamahof

And Stan love this wonderful old building on the Island of Fehmarn on the Baltic Sea:

We really enjoyed our visit there. We went with our freinds Iris (Lightshipfan) and Dirk. And we were VERY lucky. The grounds are not open to the public, but a very nice gentleman let us in just the same. Read all about it: Lighthouse Duo - Marienleuchte

The old lighthouse is not in use any more, so they built a new one:



Not very far from the old one!

Such beautiful lighthouses, Margret! It's too bad that you and Stan couldn't have bought Marienleuchte. Then, we could have come to visit you AND your charming lighthouse. Thank you for giving us the background and history of these lights.

OK, one more post. Lets go back to Denmark:

This is the oldest navigational light I know. It stands at the most northernly tip of Denmark. The basket would be filled with coal and then raised.
It was replaced by this light, which is close by:

This is called Hvide Fyr (White Lighthouse). And when this became useless another higher tower was built very close by:


As always, more information at: Lighthouse Duo - Skagen Lights

Yes Grace ... we agree. We would have LOVED to buy the Marienleuchte lighthouse. Trouble is... you'd need a fortune to restore that building. It would be worth it though!
It would make a smashing place for a guest house. There is room for a swimming pool and access to the beach and the location is brilliant and the views to die for. But ... money money money.... :rolleyes:

I love the White Tower but find the Vipefyr really fascinating. You are a wonderful historian and you and Iris do a terrific job of translating. I am learning so much about the European Lights.

What a dream it would be to restore Marienleuchte - but the money and the work! Maybe someone with big bucks will restore all the buildings and convert the outer buildings as guest cottages for a bed and breakfast. Then, we could have a Wacko Reunion there!

Let me show you some of my favorite lighthouses in Germany. This one can be found in Bremerhaven and is called "Kaiserschleuse". But look at the small bell - we call it "Glockenturm" which means "bell tower". By the way: It has never had windows.

This is the second one in Bremerhaven - I love its Architecture. It was built of the famous Mr. Loschen so we call it "Loschen-Turm".

Believe it or not, this lighthouse is not in India - it´s the third one in Bremerhaven.

Looks like a lollipop - but is a lighthouse called "Pilsum" near the city of Emden at the North Sea. Very romantic place if you go there with the right person

We are still at the North Sea, now directly in the city of Emden. This is the lighthouse "Emden".

In this picture two lighthouses are hidden. The small one is "Travemuende old light" near my hometown the city of Luebeck at the Baltic Sea. But look at the large building - at the top is the lantern of "Travemuende new light" - it is 114 meters high. But my favorite is the small one. It is open to the public and if you are lucky, the former lighthouse keeper will show you, how the light works.

Double "wow" on the pictures of those lights! They are so different from what we have in this country. Thank you so much for taking the time to share those photos with us. Please post more if you have them. They are really fascinating.

Bob

Iris, these are phenomenal. When I inquired about your posting some of your pictures, I was afraid you might be too busy. I am so glad that you and Margret are sharing your pictures with us. Many of us will never be able to see these lights in person, so it is wonderful to see them through your beautiful pictures.

Hey Iris ... great pics... I seem to recognise some of those lighthouses
We must go on another lighthouse exploration together Further WEST this time.. the Emden light is very different!

Very nice images, iris, keep them coming..

What happens if you go there with the wrong person??

WackoPaul, if you go there with the wrong person - it is just a normal lighthouse ;-) But if you go there with the right pserson, you can get married there :-)

How do you like this one. It is also in Travemuende near Luebeck and seems to be "not very interesting" in daylight. But look at the white bricks, they are made from glass and at night this is a very beautiful light because the light shines from inside through the glass bricks.

I am learning so much about European lighthouses. This one is very interesting. It must look pretty spectacular at night.

If we all beg real hard, I wonder if Iris is going to visit Travemünde at night some day
I guess most of us will not get the chance to see that ... I have only seen it in a book!

Great idea, Margret! Iris, go and take a night shot for us. That would be a lovely Xmas present to the people on the CF!

I found this evening image of the lighthouse..

Travemünde Lighthouse

Advent is a time for peace, calm and no stress!!! So ....Dear Iris, go when you next visit your familiy anyway! It is too far for a special trip ... don't let me puch you into any pressure!!!! Don't need that kind of stress!!!!

Iris, thank you for giving us this Christmas present and thanks, Paul, for lighting it up for us. The lighthouse is pretty spectacular at night.

Iris, your pictures are great. What different lights and the colors are really OUTstanding. BRIGHT!!!

Amazing how many different designs there are in the world. I want to see them all.

Maybe Dave will put a tour group together!!

If the tour group will come to the Kiel area, I would love to be your guide ;-)

Wouldn't that be a fantastic trip?! Maybe one of these days some of us will make it over there.

I'm all over coming back to your area Iris. John and I were on a cruise a couple of years ago that went through the Kiel canal. We were on our way for a stop at Warnemunde to spend the day in Berlin. There were so many friendly people that lined the banks of the canal to wave or even sing to us as we passed by.

I loved those Lighthouses. I'm ready to come over and see them for myself.

Some very unique and interesting lights, for sure. So many interpretations in the design for a tower to display a lens. The second Bremerhaven light that Iris posted looks like the one that HL did several years ago. Always loved the architecture of it.

I recognized it and looked it up; HL264 is the Bremerhaven Light.

Didn't know that HL had made the Bremerhaven Light... Did they make a LL of that?

And if you do go over to Kiel ... We had Iris as a guide twice now. I can tell you ... IT IS VERY MUCH WORTH IT - she is a brilliant guide!!! We saw lights with her that we would never have found allone! And that despite the fact that I can read German sign posts!

Yes, Harbour Lights made a LL, model # HL 264 with an planned edition of 5,000. In my opinion looks very nice.

I am getting confused ... is #264 not the big one? :rolleyes:

Yes, HL#264 is the big Bremerhaven; it sold for $59.95 and there were 5,000 made. It's on my list, along with Longships, but I haven't purchased either yet.

My BAD, I meant to write LE.

Thanks for clearing that up. So there is no Bremerhaven Little Light ... what a shame! Would love that!

But the regular size is really beautiful. We can find one for you and have it shipped to Stan's daughter; when you come to visit, you can take it home.

Oohhh... Thanks for the thought Grace!
But...
Money is tight at the moment. We had to buy a new car and then there will the expenses for the CA trip ... Sigh....
And we splashed out on the British Lights too... Well that was Christmas Present from him to me and me to him ... But still they cost money :rolleyes: ...
It is a shame there is no Little Bremerhaven!!!! Or more other non-US lights as LL ... Must get in touch with HL ....