More than a symbol
A beloved maritime symbol of holidays and coastline to many, lighthouses have meant homecoming, security and hope to sailors for centuries. These special buildings are still of great significance today, bearing contemporary witness to shipping history and standing as evidence of engineering and navigation ingenuity.
Still today, lighthouses are an indispensable aid to shipping. As such, there are over 40 active lighthouses along the Elbe between Neuwerk in the Elbe estuary and Bunthäuser Spitze at the separation point between the northern and southern parts of the river. Each lighthouse has its own tact and its own unique color code.
Guiding fire at Tinsdal - Wittenbergen
The Tinsdal lighthouse stands strong near the Elbe on the Wittenberg heath. It is part of a range of leading lights to help skippers navigating the Elbe keep their course. At a fire height of 56 meters, the Tinsdal lighthouse, with its red-white steel lattice tower, is visible for 19 nautical miles (around 35 kilometres).
Lighting technology through the ages
When the Tinsdal lighthouse was put into operation on 1 January, 1900, it was operated with a kerosene wick lamp. In 1927, it was switched to a liquid gas incandescent light and the old belt light was replaced by two headlight lenses. After being connected to the local power grid in 1966 and equipped with a backup generator, the fire at Tinsdal no longer required constant care from a lighthouse keeper. Since 1979 the tower has been completely remote- controlled.
Getting there
Take Bus 189 to the stop Tinsdaler Heidweg.
If driving, the address Am Leuchtturm, 22559 Hamburg can be provided to your car’s navigation system.
For more information on the surrounding Wittenbergen area, visit Hamburg Tourism.
