Bartholomäusturm, Gothic tower at Anger 51, Erfurt, Germany

Bartholomäusturm is a Gothic tower at the corner of Anger and Grafengasse in Erfurt. It is crowned with a hexagonal spire and houses a carillon of 60 bronze bells inside.

St Bartholomew's Church was first documented in 1282 and burned down in 1291, then rebuilt. Its tower was erected between 1411 and 1448. After the Reformation in 1525 the church was assigned to the Protestant Barfüßerkirche congregation and used until 1571. A fire in 1660 destroyed the unused church but spared the tower; the nave was demolished in 1715 and replaced by a parsonage and deacon's house from 1715 to 1717.

The tower shapes the character of Anger square with its distinctive hexagonal spire rising above the surrounding half-timbered buildings. The bell melodies that sound daily have become a signature of this central gathering place.

The best spot to hear the bell melodies is on Anger square in front of the church. The daily concerts last about ten minutes and are especially worthwhile during the Advent season.

The carillon installed in 1979 was then the largest in the GDR, with 60 bronze bells from the Schilling foundry in Apolda weighing 13,626 kg in total; the largest bell alone weighs 2,393 kg. Since 1992 a computer-controlled mechanism plays 74 pieces automatically at 10, 12 and 18 o'clock, and a carillonneur performs on special occasions. Today it ranks fifth among the 42 carillons in Germany.