Bucksturm, Medieval watchtower in Osnabrück, Germany
The Bucksturm is a medieval tower in Osnabrück with thick stone walls and narrow loopholes designed for handheld weapons. Its sturdy structure shapes the old town streetscape and clearly shows the construction style of the city's early fortifications.
The tower was built in the 13th century as part of the city wall and lost approximately 10 meters of its original height in 1805 due to deterioration. Over centuries, its role changed and it served at various times as a dungeon and execution site.
The tower served as a prison and place of dark practices, especially during the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries. Its thick walls today remind visitors of this grim chapter in the city's past.
The interior is closed to visitors, but you can view the exterior and the 1922 war memorial next to it from Bocksmauer street. The tower is best visited during daylight hours when sunlight highlights the stone walls.
On the second floor sat the 'Johanniskasten', a solid oak chest used to hold prisoners. It famously confined the robber knight Johann von Hoya between 1441 and 1448.
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