- Krawutschke Tower
The Krawutschke Tower (German: "Krawutschketurm") is a 13 metre tall
observation tower in theHürtgenwald municipality inGermany , about one kilometer east of the village center of "Bergstein", approximately 10 km south ofDüren . The Krawutschke Tower is 400.5 m above sea level, situated on the "Burgberg" (Engl. castle mountain), which, duringWorld War II , also had the Allied-given name Hill 400 due to its elevation. The Krawutschke Tower has three platforms, one above the other, each separated by three meters.On a clear day, one can see Cologne cathedral. Looking eastward, the
Nideggen castle is visible on the other side of theRur valley. The tower has a panoramic view over the reservoir with the dam at "Obermaubach".In 1911 an observation tower was built on the ruins of the former Berenstein castle, the
medieval name Berenstein eventually becoming today's Bergstein. In 1933 a new tower was erected, named "Eifelwanderer Franz Krawutschke" after the locally famous "Eifelverein" association member Franz Krawutschke (1862-1940). The tower, which also was being used as afire lookout tower , was heavily damaged during World War II and then destroyed by a forest fire in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1972, financed by the municipality of Hürtgenwald, the "Eifelverein" Association, the district of Düren and the state ofNorth Rhine-Westphalia .From July 2005 to November 2006 the tower had to be closed for safety reasons. After renovation of a substantial part of the supporting wooden construction (costs about € 65,000), the tower is open to the public again.
References
* Ernst Kamp, Stefan Kamp: "DNA Taschenführer – Wanderungen in der Eifel", ISBN 2-7165-0370-2
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