Photo: M. Steininger

Mesnerturm

St. Ruprecht an der Raab, Styria

The tower is said to have been built around 1756 – the associated Mesnerkeusche (sacristan's cottage) a year later – and formerly belonged to the typical weather towers. For centuries, it was rung for prayer, and in accordance with the original reason for the erection of this bell tower, also at the approach of a thunderstorm, and even during a storm. The Mesnerturm is one of those typical weather towers, such as were erected since about 1600 in many places in Eastern Styria that do not have a church. The tower is 9.05 m high, clad with boards, and has four Gothic sound windows in the upper part. According to the accounts of older community members, the Mesnerturm collapsed in August 1926 during a severe thunderstorm. It was then re-erected by a carpenter. In 1932, a powerful storm tore down the bell tower again. The bell of the Mesnerturm is also special. It is consecrated to St. Margaret and was cast in 1756 by Martin Feltl, court foundry Köstenbauer at Säcktor in Graz, and in its size, it is one of the oldest bells in Austria (information from Mr. KR Grassmayr, Bell Foundry Grassmayr, Innsbruck). The bronze bell has a diameter of 39 cm and, including the clapper, weighs 40 kg and is richly decorated. After professional restoration of the bell in 1995/1996, the bell now rings at the usual times at 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 7:00 PM. The year of construction of the Mesnerhaus (sacristan's house) is given as 1757 in a document from the Weiz tax office. Between 1785 and 1800, the first school in Rollsdorf was housed in this building. The Mesnerkeusche still had a thatched roof until after the war in 1948. Between 1948 and 1952, under the then mayor Maximilian Glück, the farm building was newly constructed, the thatched roof of the cottage was removed, the roof truss was renewed and covered with Eternit. Access was only possible via a poor sunken road to the Mesnerriegl. In the 90s, the Mesnerhaus, like the Mesnerturm, was renovated by numerous volunteers. Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark SAM WZ1823, reservation at +43 50 36 37 38 or ISTmobil.at