Bucksturm, Medieval watchtower in Osnabrück, Germany
The Bucksturm is a medieval defensive tower in the old town of Osnabrück, built with thick stone walls and narrow openings designed for handheld weapons. It stands along Bocksmauer street and is one of the surviving sections of the city's former fortification ring.
The tower was built in the 13th century as part of the city wall, and by 1805 it had lost around 10 meters of its original height due to decay. Over the following centuries it was used as a dungeon and a place of execution before falling out of active use.
The Bucksturm is closely associated with the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries, when it was used to hold people who had been condemned. Passing by today, visitors see a plain stone tower that gives little outward sign of what once took place inside.
The interior is not open to visitors, but the exterior and the 1922 war memorial beside it are clearly visible from Bocksmauer street. Visiting during daylight makes it easier to take in the details of the stonework.
On the second floor there once stood a solid oak chest called the Johanniskasten, which was used as a prison cell. The robber knight Johann von Hoya was held inside it from 1441 to 1448.
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