The Bismarcksäule

The Bismarcksäule is a 23-meter-tall sandstone tower in Dresden's Räcknitz district featuring a winding interior staircase and an observation platform at the summit. Built in 1906 following Wilhelm Kreis's design, it is part of a nationwide series of similar memorial structures.

Completed in 1906, this tower was built following Wilhelm Kreis's winning competition design that led to approximately 47 similar structures across Germany. The building survived World War II and continued as a landmark despite subsequent political changes in the region.

During the Cold War era, the structure was renamed Friedensturm (Peace Tower) and fell into disrepair until local students undertook a major restoration project in the 1990s.

The interior is reached by a narrow spiral staircase of roughly 158 steps leading to the observation platform. On clear days, the height provides excellent long-distance views across the surrounding landscape.

From the summit, visitors can see across to the Elbe Valley, the Saxon Switzerland rock formations, and even into nearby Bohemia on clear days. This expansive outlook explains why this location was selected for the memorial structure.

Location: Dresden

Height: 23 m

Made from material: sandstone

GPS coordinates: 51.02230,13.73530

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42