Flatow Tower, Potsdam, Germany
N 52° 24.266 E 013° 05.137
33U E 369770 N 5807746
Quick Description: Neo-gothic tower overlooking the town of Potsdam, Germany
Location: Germany
Date Posted: 2/16/2009 8:44:32 PM
Waymark Code: WM5VMV
Views: 2
Long Description:This is the highest peak in Babelsberg Park, a park adjacent to
Babelsberg
Palace, once the summer residence of German Emperor Kaiser
Wilhelm I. Until 1848, a windmill was located here. After the
mill burned down, Architect
Johann
Heinrich Strack designed a 151 feet high tower in neo-gothic
style, based on the
Eschenhein
Tower in Frankfurt/Main. The tower was built between 1853
and 1856 using stones from a former princely estate in Western
Prussia, named Flatow. It was eventually named after the estate.
Originally, the tower was protected by a draw bridge and a
number of canons and was adorned by statues of medieval
lansquenets. Everything except the tower itself was destroyed in
the final battles of World War II and the tower remained a ruin
for many years after the war.
During the communist years, it was illegal to climb the tower
because it offered a great view over Potsdam and West Berlin and
the Wall between the two cities. It would have been the perfect
place to plan an escape from East Germany.
Shortly after German reunification, the Tower was restored to
its old beauty. It is now
open to
the public every weekend between April 1 and October 15 and
offers the best view over the town and the parks and lakes
surrounding it.
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