The Pirna Bell has tolled continuously for 119 years.
In the heart of Pirna-Copitz, a tranquil town in Saxony Switzerland-Osterzgebirge, the old town hall clock and its bell have fallen silent since late August. This silence is not a result of mechanical failure, but rather a complaint about noise, which led to an investigation by the local authorities.
The bell, operating as a non-permit-required facility, chimes half-hourly and hourly, marking the time for the town's residents. Its operation is usually the responsibility of resident Wolfgang Queißer, who winds up the old clockwork by hand once a week.
However, the excess noise produced by the bell has prompted the district administration to consider necessary noise-reducing measures, especially during nighttime hours. Short-term noise peaks of up to 65 dB(A) are permitted at night for such facilities, but an orientation measurement found a high excess of 19 dB(A) during nighttime hours for the bell in Pirna-Copitz.
The operator of the bell was instructed to take these measures during a hearing. The authorities subsequently ruled that the bell must remain silent between 10 pm and 6 am. The instructions were not only a response to the complaint but also a part of the bell's operation requirements, which stipulate that the operator must report these measures and their implementation period to the district administration.
Despite the temporary silence, the old clock and bell have been running smoothly since a renovation in 2004. Claudia Meerz, a pharmacist in the town hall building, serves as the bell's unofficial guardian, ensuring its continued care and maintenance.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to save the carillon in Pirna-Copitz. Wolfgang Schwind is leading the collection of signatures for this cause. It's worth noting that the much louder bell of the Pirnaer Marienkirche is still in operation, but investigations are conducted on a case-by-case basis.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to insulate or modify the protected bell to make it ring more quietly. This predicament has left the town's residents in a state of anticipation, eagerly waiting for a solution that respects both the historical significance of the bell and the need for peaceful nights.
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