Ochsenturm, Turm der ehemaligen Stadtbefestigung
The Ochsenturm is a round stone tower structure in Oberwesel along the Middle Rhine region, originally built around the middle of the 14th century and standing over 40 meters tall with a diameter of about 11 meters. The tower features multiple floors, thick walls nearly 3 meters in depth, an internal stone staircase, and various functional spaces including a ground floor prison area and watch rooms in the upper levels.
The tower was built around 1350 and was one of the strongest towers in the region, surpassed only by a similar tower in Andernach, while today it remains one of only a few from the original 22 protective towers of the city. It initially served as a defense structure at the northern boundary, was later used as a prison and observation post for river traffic, and survived wars and bombardments through to the present day.
The name Ochsenturm likely refers to the strength of an ox, a common pattern for medieval towers in the region. Other towers in Oberwesel carried similar animal names such as Kuhhirtenturm and Katzenturm, which helped residents and visitors distinguish their locations throughout the town.
The tower is easily reached and offers access through an internal spiral staircase to multiple levels, with visitors able to see clearly across the Rhine and surrounding landscape from the top. The riverside location makes it ideal to visit while walking through the old town, especially if you have time to explore all levels of the tower.
A telescope was installed in the tower during the 19th century to better monitor ship traffic on the Rhine, a function that remained essential for navigation on the river for centuries. Today this historical role reminds visitors of the tower's strategic importance for controlling trade and communication along the waterway.
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