Ödenturm, Stone watchtower in Geislingen an der Steige, Germany

The Ödenturm is a stone tower 33.4 metres tall on an artificially levelled spur about 60 metres long and 15 metres wide above Geislingen an der Steige. Its base walls are 2.5 metres thick, and the original entrance lay nine metres above the ground, reached only by ladder. A wooden staircase inside now leads up to the viewing level.

The tower's construction date is debated: Adelbert Schuholz proposed the first quarter of the 15th century, while its bossage masonry could place it between 1150 and 1250. It is first documented in 1420. After Helfenstein Castle was razed in 1552, a new ground-level entrance was broken in and the tower served as Geislingen's watchtower, with a bell hung in 1558 to ring for fires.

The name comes from the German word 'öde', meaning isolated or barren, referring to its remote hilltop location above the town. It has become a landmark that people in Geislingen recognize from far away and connect with their city's identity.

The tower is normally open from May through October on Sundays between 10 AM and 5 PM with free entrance. Visitors should know that climbing involves an old wooden staircase and opening times may vary depending on weather conditions.

The tower was struck by lightning multiple times throughout its history, including a tragic incident in 1669 when a tower keeper died during a summer storm. These events are part of the local tradition and remind visitors of the dangers that came with the tower's exposed hilltop location.