Zündhütle

The Zündhütle is a 40-meter-tall tower built from steel and concrete that once operated as part of an ammunition production site in Karlsruhe. The structure stands in a rural area accessible through marked hiking routes, allowing visitors to view its industrial architecture from various angles.

The tower was built in 1897 and operated as a manufacturing facility until 1973, when production finally ceased. During its active years, it was an important industrial site in the Karlsruhe region, employing workers and contributing to the area's economy.

The tower represents Karlsruhe's industrial past and shows how the city developed during the 1800s. Today, visitors can see how this protected landmark connects the area's manufacturing heritage with its natural surroundings.

The tower is accessible via hiking trails from the nearby village of Wolfartsweier, with a loop route of roughly 5 kilometers. The site is located in a rural area and works best for visitors on foot or arriving by car.

The tower featured an ingenious process where molten lead was dropped from a great height into a water basin below, creating perfectly round ammunition balls through gravity and cooling. This method was a remarkable manufacturing technique for its era.