TOWER OF FIRE (TŰZTORONY)

The Fire Tower, or City Tower (Tűztorony or Várostorony), renovated in 2013, is Sopron's must-see landmark. At 60 meters high and over 600 years old, it offers exceptional panoramic views of the old town, the Lőverek mountains and, on a clear day, the neighboring Alps. Built on Roman foundations visible in its cellar, the tower once served as a lookout post where trumpet-ringers kept watch for fires. The angular lower part dates back to the late ^13th century, while the cylindrical part dates back to the early ^14th century. After the fire of 1676, it took on its present form, with a late-Renaissance gallery, colonnades and a green copper Baroque bulb topped by a spire adorned with a double-headed eagle. At its base, the Gate of Fidelity (Előkapu) commemorates the historic referendum of December 1921, when the people of Sopron overwhelmingly chose to remain Hungarian despite the award of the city to Austria by the Treaty of Trianon. This loyalty is also celebrated by the group of statues above the gate, the work of Zsigmond Strobl Kisfaludi, representing Hungaria surrounding loyal citizens. The baroque frame of the gate was designed by Rezső Hikisch to honor this event. Today, the tower houses a visitor center where museum exhibits on Sopron's history, fortifications and traditions are presented. Models and historical objects illustrate medieval life and key events in the city.