Elisabeth-Tower, Television and observation tower in Schönwalde am Bungsberg, Germany

The Elisabeth Tower is a stone structure in Schönwalde am Bungsberg that rises 22 meters above the landscape of Schleswig-Holstein. An internal staircase provides access to an observation platform at the top, from which the surrounding region becomes visible.

Planning for the tower began in 1861, inspired by the Hessenstein tower on the Pilsberg near Panker (built 1841) and the Gömnitzer Turm (1828). Grand Duke Nikolaus Friedrich Peter of Oldenburg had it built in 1863/1864 to a height of 64 feet and named it after his wife, Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg. In 1875 it was raised by 12 feet to 76 feet because trees had grown and blocked the view. Between 1954 and 1960 it served as a VHF transmission tower.

The tower is named after Elisabeth von Sachsen-Altenburg, wife of Grand Duke Nikolaus Friedrich Peter of Oldenburg, who had it built in 1863/1864. Its 1875 heightening, when trees had grown over the view, shows how the lookout was maintained for visitors. Since summer 2017 the renovated tower has been open to the public and is a protected monument.

The observation deck is reached by climbing an internal staircase, and the tower is open during daylight hours throughout the year. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for the stairs leading up to the platform.

The tower was used as a VHF transmission tower between 1954 and 1960, a role that ended long before its 2017 reopening. Its granite blocks were quarried locally, and the octagonal plan has eight equal sides of dressed stone. The 1875 height increase of 12 feet was needed because trees had grown up and blocked the view.