The Watchtower is one of the most interesting sights of the historic centre of the town. Elderly inhabitants of Rožňava even nowadays claim there are only three significant towers in the world: those of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Watchtower in Rožňava.
Origins of the tower date back to one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of Rožňava, the mid 17th century (1643). The town`s Renaissance watchtower was built on the site of an earlier Gothic building in the period of the Turkish threat in 1643 – 1654 (Georgius Gerscheuer and Daniel Mosszen). In 1766, the original tower burnt out and after the fire its upper Renaissance part was replaced by a Baroque wooden gallery and a shingle helmet-like roof.
Modified several times, the tower fulfilled an important function, which fact is witnessed by the loopholepreserved in its eastern wall and a Turkish cannonball in the southern facade. Close to the cannonball, there is a Renaissance stone board showing the historical form of the town`s coat-of-arms from the period when the tower was constructed.
In 1997, the building was renovated and open to the public as a look-out tower. The Watchtower is 38 m high. After climbing the 144 steps, the visitors may enjoy a beautiful view of Rožňava nestled like a “penny in a hat” of the surrounding hills. Walking around the tower’s gallery in the height of 28 metres, we can time travel for a while to the late 19th century, when there were guards in the room behind the gallery, the public control of which was ensured by a clever device consisting of a tower bell with a long rope connected to a lever located at the Town Hall gate.
The tower has gradually become a symbol of the town. It is popular among local artists and appears on tens of postcards of Rožňava.
Source: TIC Rožňava
Mnara wa Mlinzi ni mojawapo ya vitu vya kuvutia zaidi katika kitovu cha kihistoria cha mji huo. Watu wa Rožňava wanaamini kwamba kuna minara mitatu tu ya kihistoria duniani: Mnara wa Pisa, Mnara wa Eiffel huko Paris, na Mnara wa Mlinzi huko Rožňava. Mnara wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi wa Mlinzi. Mnara wa ulinzi wa Renaissance ulianzishwa katika eneo la jengo la Gothic la zamani katika kipindi cha tishio la Uturuki katika 1643-1654 na George Gershwin na Daniel Mossen. Mnamo mwaka wa 1766, mnara wa awali ulichomwa moto na baada ya moto sehemu yake ya juu ya Renaissance ilibadilishwa na ukumbi wa mbao wa Baroque na paa la shingle-helmet. Mnara huo ulibadilishwa mara kadhaa, na ulitimiza kazi muhimu, jambo ambalo linathibitishwa na shimo lililohifadhiwa katika ukuta wake wa mashariki na risasi ya bunduki ya Kituruki katika uso wa kusini. Karibu na cannonball, kuna Renaissance jiwe bodi kuonyesha fomu ya kihistoria ya mji wa coat-of-milki kutoka kipindi wakati mnara ilijengwa. Mnamo mwaka wa 1997, jengo hilo lilirekebishwa na kufunguliwa kwa umma kama mnara wa kutazama. Mnara wa Mlinzi una urefu wa mita 38. Baada ya kupanda ngazi 144, wageni wanaweza kufurahia mandhari nzuri ya Rožňava iliyo kama "penny katika kofia" ya vilima vya karibu. Kutembea kuzunguka mnara wa mnara wa mita 28, tunaweza kusafiri kwa muda hadi mwishoni mwa karne ya 19, wakati kulikuwa na walinzi katika chumba cha nyuma ya mnara, udhibiti wa umma ambao ulihakikishwa na kifaa cha busara kilichoundwa na kengele ya mnara na kamba ndefu iliyounganishwa na lever iliyoko kwenye lango la Jumba la Halmashauri. Hatua kwa hatua mnara huo umekuwa ishara ya mji huo. Ni maarufu miongoni mwa wasanii wa ndani na inaonekana juu ya makumi ya kadi za posta za Rožňava. Chanzo: T.I.C. Rožňava