Bismarck tower

The Bismarck tower is a 21-meter-tall stone structure featuring eleven buttresses and multiple window openings, constructed on a circular base with a 12-meter diameter. It stands prominently above the ruins of Rothenburg, forming a distinctive landmark in the landscape.

The tower was inaugurated on August 5, 1906, during the third Kyffhäuser festival, marking the 25th anniversary of the German Student Association's founding. It was built during a period when such monuments held great symbolic importance for student communities.

The structure represents the connection between German student associations and national movements through the flags and coats of arms that were displayed inside. This relationship shows how student groups engaged with the broader political and social questions of their era.

The monument has been closed to public access since 2012, as it stands within private property boundaries near the Rothenburg ruins. Visitors can view the structure from outside and photograph it from the surrounding area, but cannot enter the tower itself.

A time capsule was sealed in the tower's keystone during construction, preserving historical documents from the dedication ceremony. This hidden capsule has protected personal and official records from that special moment for over a century.