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Bömenzien border tower will be the new highlight in the star park!
The border tower near Bömenzien will become part of a star park in the Altmark to promote tourism and astrophotography.
Bömenzien border tower will be the new highlight in the star park!
The former GDR border tower near Bömenzien is now being upgraded as part of a new star park, which is intended not only to increase the tourist attractiveness of the region, but also to attract amateur astronomers and stargazers. How az online Reportedly, the border tower was extensively renovated and is now impressive in its preservation as an architectural monument. The tower, approximately 2 × 2 meters in size and approximately 8 meters high, has an internal ladder, which is not accessible to the public due to structural conditions.
The initiative to create the star park was launched by the Altmark-Macher association, which, with the support of Amanda Hasenfusz, is promoting the project to local politicians, especially in the Seehausen community. Mayor Michael Seide from Zehrental is optimistic about the project and emphasizes that the star park could attract new arrivals of families and tourists to the region, especially since Groß Garz is one of the darkest places in Germany and therefore offers perfect conditions for stargazing.
Expansion of star points
The star park includes several locations, including the Bömenzien border tower, the Neuen Landhof, the Dahrendorf border tower and Astraea in Vissum. Another planned location is the Darnewitz Findling Park, where Helmut Schnieder, an experienced astrophotographer, is checking its suitability as a new “star point”. It assesses the celestial alignments and looks for obstacles that could disrupt the view. This park is listed as a dark place on the Light Pollution Map, which makes it particularly attractive to astronomers, such as MDR reported.
A key advantage of official star points is the security of parking and an unobstructed view of the night sky. The Landhof NEUEN also offers educational opportunities for children, including a living planetarium with stories from Greek mythology. In the long term, the initiative aims to have the region recognized as a certified star park by “Dark Sky International”, for which cooperation with Wendland is sought.
Nature and darkness
Physicist and astronomer Andreas Hänel emphasizes that the Altmark offers excellent conditions for a star park due to its low population density and natural darkness. Compared to existing star parks such as Westhavelland, the region offers promising conditions for stargazers who want to live out their passion without being disturbed by urban light sources.
With the right infrastructure and support from local authorities, the project is seen as a benefit for the entire region, attracting not only nature and star lovers, but also families and tourists. The small information signs that will be installed on the connecting path between Bömenzien and Nienwalde and on the tower will also help inform visitors about the region's attractions.