Luitpold tower, Observation tower on Weißenberg mountain, Merzalben, Germany.
Luitpold Tower is a 34.6-metre observation tower of hewn bunter sandstone on the 610-metre Weißenberg near Merzalben. A perron leads to a stairwell with 164 steps, a mid-height oriel bench, and a metal spiral staircase to the platform, which has a waist-high balustrade with four observation niches and 12 orientation plaques.
The idea for the tower was conceived on 29 May 1895 at the general assembly of the Gräfenstein Conservation Society, founded in 1893 by forestry assessor August Zwissler. The Palatine Forest Club took over coordination, architect Ludwig Ullmann drew up the plans, and construction began on 19 July 1908. The tower was inaugurated on 26 September 1909, costing about 23,000 gold marks, paid off by 1911.
The tower is named after Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, a name proposed by Karl Albrecht von Ritter, then chairman of the Palatine Forest Club. Since 2002, twelve plaques on the sandstone parapet mark notable destinations with their distances, such as the Donnersberg at 42 km and the Kalmit at 20 km.
The tower is reached on marked forest paths (PWV blue cross and Pfälzer Waldpfad logo) from the Am Holländerklotz car park, about 630 m north-northeast, or from the Luitpoldstein car park about 440 m south. From Hermersbergerhof it is a 10 to 20 minute walk. The climb to the platform is 164 steps, with a bench in an oriel halfway up.
The annexe at the foot of the tower holds a stone table, benches and a fireplace, built as shelter in bad weather. A plaque there records the tower's key dates and construction history, including the 1908 start of works and the 1909 inauguration.
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