The World’s Most Famous Chimneys
A chimney can be an awe-inspiring feature, with beautiful masonry work and a copper chimney cap. There are some chimneys that are actually famous because they are so much more than a standard smoke stack. The following are some incredible chimneys that are so unique, they’ve become popular tourist attractions in places throughout the world.
Carlsberg Winding Chimney
Carl Jacobsen, whose father was Carlsberg founder J.C. Jacobsen, had a desire to incorporate his passion for art into the family business. He has a factory which overlooks Copenhagen, the Danish capital, and a new chimney was needed. Jacobsen hired master builder P.S. Beckmann and Vilhelm Dahlerup, architect, to create an industrial stack that would serve as a source of inspiration. The now dormant 183-foot chimney that was created is complete with gargoyles, Egyptian lotus flower motifs, and more. The Carlsberg Winding Chimney has a pattern of winding grooves which reach to its height and has a reputation of being among the most interesting chimneys of its kind.
Margam Castle
Margam Castle in Wales was built from 1830 through 1840 and is famous for its chimneys and for being one of the most haunted places in Britain. Tudor Gothic Grade I listed the mansion as a place which possesses paranormal entities. The Tudor style chimney stacks on the castle are elaborate and were all especially made in Bedfordshire and then transported to Margam.
Thornbury Castle
Thornbury Castle, built in 1511, is a Tudor style building which has stunningly elaborate chimneys. The castle is among the oldest and most historic homes in England. Part of the history of Thornbury is that it was confiscated for a short time by King Henry VIII, who resided there with Anne Boleyn. The chimneys were added in 1514. The bricks used on the chimneys were carved and molded for the purpose of creating the stunning symmetrical designs which are still enjoyed today. The castle is now a luxury hotel and wedding venue.
Oldest Chimneys
England is also the home of what are believed to be the world’s oldest standing chimney. The Fontevrault abbey from the 12th century has a huge kitchen and five massive wood-burning stoves. The fireplaces, which were used to prepare food for hundreds in the monastic community, ingeniously connect to 20 chimneys. The stone chimneys are pencil-shaped and enhance the abbey’s Romanesque architecture.
The Most Chimneys
Originally intended to be a hunting lodge for François I, the Chateau of Chamboard in Loir-et-Cher, France, is enormous and, incredibly, has a total of 365 chimneys. The ornate chimneys feature animals, columns, sculpted shields, nymphs, and wreaths. Close to one million people visit the chateau each year, and the chimneys are as much a draw as the 440 rooms and the 84 staircases. As huge as the Chateau of Chamboard is, it was never completed.
Creations of Antoni Gaudi
Antoni Gaudi, born in 1852 in Reus, Spain, was an architect who achieved fame through his remarkable chimneys and unique building projects. Among the most memorable is Casa Batlló, which is located in the heart of Barcelona. This masterpiece was a remodel job done for Josep Batlló, a wealthy aristocrat, from about 1904 to 1906. The exterior of the building, including the chimneys, are all rounded and evoke the smooth skin of a sea serpent. All of the organic design elements of the edifice reflect the colors and shapes of marine life.
Other outstanding chimneys by Gaudi include the extraordinary Palau Güell, Casa Milà, and more. All of the unforgettable chimneys Gaudi created are popular among tourists and serve as inspiration to architects everywhere.
Das Heizhaus Chimney
The world-renowned Das Heizhaus Chimney was created by the remarkable Rudolf Steiner. An artist, philosopher, literary scholar, educator, and social thinker, Steiner has been recognized for many lifetime achievements.
He had revolutionary ideas which represent nonconformity, and they are reflected in the spectacular and colorful Das Heizhaus Chimney that was built in 1914.
