Maagdentoren, Medieval fortified tower in Zichem, Belgium.
The Maagdentoren is a fortified tower in Scherpenheuvel-Zichem standing about 26 meters tall with a diameter of about 15 meters and walls over 4 meters thick at the base. The structure uses local brown iron sandstone from the Hageland Hills for its exterior with brick materials inside, and features an observation platform reachable by stairs.
Reinoud II of Schoonvorst ordered construction of this border defense tower around 1383 to protect the boundary between the Duchy of Brabant and the County of Loon. The tower dates from an era when such structures were built along disputed frontiers to watch over and control territory.
The tower carries the name Maiden's Tower from a legend about a nobleman's daughter who refused an arranged marriage and was confined within its walls. This story has persisted through the centuries and shapes how people in the area think about the structure today.
Access to the observation platform is by stairs inside the tower, and on clear days you can see up to 30 kilometers across the Demer Valley from the top. Visitors should know that the tight spiral staircase requires physical effort, so sturdy footwear is a good idea.
The structure shows a striking layering of materials that reflects how medieval builders worked with local resources and combined them for durability. The contrast between the massive iron sandstone exterior and the brick architecture inside tells the story of hands-on problem-solving from that era.
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