Altvaterturm, Memorial observation tower at Wetzstein Mountain, Germany
Altvaterturm is an observation tower roughly 36 meters tall built on Wetzstein mountain with nine upper floors and a basement. It provides both open and enclosed viewing platforms at about 825 meters elevation for surveying the surrounding landscape.
Built between 1999 and 2004, this tower recreates the Habsburgwarte structure first erected in 1912 on Mount Altvater in what was then Czechoslovakia. The new building stands as a remembrance of the original location and its past.
A chapel inside honors communities displaced from Czechoslovakia after World War II, with memorial plaques telling their stories. Visitors can see these tributes while looking out over the landscape they once called home.
The tower opens mainly on weekends and holidays, with the best views on clear days when visibility extends across multiple mountain ranges. Plan your visit for sunny weather to make the most of the panoramic sightlines.
The site sits on former restricted military land that was hidden from the public for many years, creating a sense of newly opened terrain. This history of isolation adds depth to the now-accessible panoramic views of the Thuringian and Franconian highlands.
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