Äols Harp

Overview

„Aeolus“ is the Greek god of the wind. Other names for the Äols Harp are „wind harp, ghost harp or weather harp“. In the sense of the romantic period, the harp creates gentle sounds when the wind is strong enough.
The instrument dates back to pre-christian times. The Äols Harp was very popular in England and Germany between 1790 and 1850. It was even a theme in German literature, with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Eduard Mörike mentioning it in their works.
The Äols Harp was originally a stringed instrument. With the coming of industrialisation, many companies in Germany and Bohemia produced a variety of wind instruments made of metal, which could be ordered by mail.
In 1877 the ruin Hohennagold was turned into an attractive place for tourists. The western tower was renovated and the platform was built. The first flag was hissed on the watch tower in 1881. In 1883 Gottlob Friedrich Knodel donated the first Äols Harp, which he had ordered from Bohemia.
Bombs destroyed the harp in the spring of 1945. The northwestern tower, the stairway and the shield wall were heavily damaged. The new harp was mounted in 2005. It was a project of Nagold’s Historical Society and Friedrich Martin, who developed and made the harp. Sounds are produced, when strong air pressure passes through the narrow part of the funnel and causes the reeds to vibrate. 

Please note: A visit to the Äols Harp is only possible when the tower is open.