Historic radio connection between Mainz and Metz celebrates 200 years!

Historic radio connection between Mainz and Metz celebrates 200 years!

On Sunday, August 24th, a historic event will be celebrated: the revival of the optical telegraph line between Mainz and Metz. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., special activities will take place at 23 former optical telegraph stations (semaphores) between these two cities. The whole thing goes back to the pioneering work of Claude Chappe, who set up this connection on behalf of Emperor Napoleon in the early 1800s. Interestingly, this route, using movable pointer bars and beacons, was the first system to enable communication across military purposes.
Again Weekly Mirror reported, this day not only honors historical relevance, but also brings modern technology into play. Radio amateurs use small FM transmitters and receivers to exchange greetings and teach visitors about the development of wireless communications.

A highlight of the event will be the activation location on the 414 meter high Litermont in Nalbach. Here the local branch Lebach Q 15 of DARC e. V. do their best with the support of radio amateurs in post and telecommunications (VFDB-Z 19). Not only is the site historically significant, but it also offers the opportunity to experiment with battery-powered radios and learn more about how telegraph stations work. The past achievements of wireless communication, from Morse and voice radio to modern digital radio, will also be shown in practical demonstrations. epilogue reminds us that Claude Chappe is the creator of modern telegraphy, whose ideas revolutionized the transmission of messages long before electric telegraphy was introduced.

Remembering the pioneering work of Claude Chappe

Claude Chappe, born in Brûlon in 1763, developed a revolutionary means of communication with his telegraph system in the early 1790s. The Wikipedia Entry describes how Chappe and his brothers optimized to transmit messages over distances of up to 15 kilometers. The system included towers from which messages were transmitted between sites using telescopes. A message could be sent from Strasbourg to Paris in just two hours, whereas it took four days on horseback.

The Chappe Telegraph developed quickly and spanned several hundred kilometers. Until the middle of the 19th century, it connected central locations in France as well as cities such as Mainz and even Venice. Despite its declining importance following the introduction of the electric telegraph, the legacy of the Chappe Telegraph is still visible today, with some of the original towers remaining in varying states of repair. The revival of this historic route between Mainz and Metz gives us the opportunity to take a look at the fascinating development of communication and to properly honor Chappe's achievements.

For those interested: More information about the event can be obtained by calling (01 75) 1 15 12 48 and on the website www.dl0mz.de/semaphoren-tag-2025. Be there and experience history up close!