Landmarks
Landmarks
Altberg lookout tower
At the beginning of 2007, an old idea was revived to erect a wooden lookout tower on the Altberg. After the local community of Dänikon including the landlady of the mountain top inn - Altberg, Gaby Hintermann, supported this project, a building application was submitted, which was approved by the canton in mid-2009.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 9, 2010, and the tower was opened with a festive event early July 10, 2010.
The tower consists of an intreaguing larch wood construction combined with steel elements, reaching a height of 34.4 meters. From the platform, located at 661 meters above sea level, one can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Alps, the Limmat Valley, the airport region, the Lägern and the Furt Valley laying beneath.
The initiators and builders of the lookout tower are the "Verein Aussichtsturm Altberg" who completed the project with the support of many private donors.
Other related information:
Planetary path to the Burghorn
The Planetary Path Lägern starts at the parking lot Linden on the road Boppelsen-Regensberg. In the middle of the parking lot one finds a huge 4.1 ton representation of the sun. From here, the planetary path leads up through the forest, past the Lägern-Hochwacht, to the Burghorn, the highest point of the Lägerngrat.
The Planetary Path Lägern is a model of the planetary system on a scale of 1:1 billion. Interestingly, the distances between the individual planets found along the path do not refer to the direct "point to point" distance but to the distance actually covered by the visitors. This provides the visitor a great feel for the actual - huge dimensions of our solar system and the enormous distance between the respective planets.
The Kiwanis Club Regensberg - Dielsdorf was the driving force behind the realization of the Planetary Path.
More information and description of each station:
Thatched roof house Hüttikon
A special sight of Hüttikon is the last remaining thatched-roof house in the canton of Zurich, built in 1683/1684. Certain details in the interior of the house, such as gray painted half-timbering or the still preserved stove tiles with relief patterns, reveal the apparent wealth of the builder. In 1823, the municipality purchased a part of the house with the intention of establishing a school there. Classes where then indeed held until 1874. In 1940, the Canton of Zurich acquired the thatched roof house to save it from "ruin". For decades, starting in 1942/43, it served as a youth hostel.
[Surce: Thatched-roof Hüttikon]
Alt-Regensberg ruin
The ruins of the ancestral castle of the barons of Regensberg is situated on a hill above the hamlet of Altburg, near the Katzensee. Visible today are the preserved remains of the residential tower, ring wall, the palace and other buildings. Particularly remarkable are the base of the tower, dating back to the 11th century, which is completely walled in on the inside, and a cistern with an overflow channel. Alt-Regensberg was abandoned in the 15th century.
[Source: Burgenwelt]
More info about the Alt-Regensberg ruin:
Castle ruin Alt-Lägern
The ruins of the hill castle are located on the narrow ridge of the Lägern at an altitude of 866 meters above sea level, located west of the so-called "Hochwacht".
Based on small items found, the Lägern Castle - also called Hohenlägern or Alt-Lägern - must have been built by Baron Lütold V. and in connection with the foundation of the small town of Regensberg. This occured between 1244 and 1246 and the building served as the seat of his local servants, the Knights of Lägern. In accordance with other findings, the castle must have been destroyed before 1300 - possibly during the so-called "Regensberger Fehde" which occurred in 1267. Subsequwently the Lords of Lägern became impoverished and eventually vanished.
Over the years 1902-1904, extensive excavations took place under the supervision of the antiquarian society of Zurich, an effort that could not be completed due to the lack of funds. The enclosing walls describe a rectangle of some 67 m by 20 m. Some interior walls indicate the presence of residential and economic buildings. Remains of a tower are missing. In 1982, the walls, some of which had decayed significantly, were repaired by both the municipality of Boppelsen and the canton of Zurich.
[Source: wikipedia]
Skyguide RADAR on the Lägern
The RADAR, known as the radar sphere on the Lägern-Hochwacht, has become a prominent landmark and can be seen from the wider region. The so-called RADOM has a diameter of 17.5 meters. Under the white protective cover that serves as weather protection, the radar rotates to continually monitor regional air traffic.
Built in 1959, the radar sphere consists of some 120 individual elements. In 2018-19, the shell of the sphere - the RADOM - had to be replaced as it showed various damages. The formerly black sphere now shines in a bright white.
The Skyguide uses this long-range secondary radar station, also known as an "en route" radar station, for civil and military air traffic control. Skyguide is the air navigation service provider that monitors the Swiss airspace as well as adjacent airspace in neighboring counties.
In 2017, Skyguide monitored some 3390 flights per day. This corresponds to some 1,237,098 IFR flights over the entire year.
Otelfingen city center
Otelfingen is the only municipality in the Furt valley that features a village center that is listed in the cantonal inventory of sites worthy of protection. Numerous early modern timber-framed houses bear witness to a once prosperous farming community. Next to the 1607 built Reformed church with its striking bell tower, the lower mill is the most striking building in the village center. The former grinding room now serves as a cultural center, hosing classical concerts in particular.
[Source: Wikipedia]