Roter Turm, Vienna

Roter Turm was a red-brick structure with a pointed roof and four corner turrets that once formed part of Vienna's medieval city walls near the Danube Canal. A mosaic plaque on a building at Rotenturmstrasse corner today marks the exact location where this tower once stood.

First recorded in 1288, this structure underwent major reconstruction in 1511 under Emperor Maximilian I following damage from a siege led by Matthias Corvinus. This rebuilding restored the fortification after a period of intense military pressure.

This tower served as a ceremonial gateway where rulers were welcomed back after wars and coronations, holding special significance for the city's formal occasions. The structure marked a symbolic threshold between the outside world and Vienna's inner districts.

This location sits in a busy area near the Danube Canal, making it easy to find while exploring Vienna's center. Since only a commemorative plaque marks the original site, look carefully at building corners when walking through the surrounding streets.

A peculiar custom involved a piece of bacon hanging inside the gate arch that only men uninfluenced by their wives were permitted to remove. This humorous test was a reflection of local wit and the social habits of medieval Vienna.

Location: Vienna

GPS coordinates: 48.21190,16.37630

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:24