City walls of Esslingen, Medieval fortress walls in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany

The City walls of Esslingen, known locally as the Esslinger Burg, are a surviving stretch of the medieval town fortification on the Schönenberg above the old town. Two arm walls built under Rudolf of Habsburg in 1286 and 1287 linked the outpost to the town walls, and a third followed in the 14th century. The round Dicker Turm, built in 1525 and given its Nuremberg-style spire in 1887, stands beside the Seilergang and the 18th-century Hochwacht.

Frederick II granted city rights to Esslingen in 1219, prompting the construction of the first protective walls around the settlement. These early fortifications were later expanded and reinforced to defend the growing town against military threats.

The grounds are free to enter and in summer serve as an open-air cinema. The name Dicker Turm, "Thick Tower", refers to the 1525 tower that became Esslingen's landmark; it held a restaurant until December 2011 and has been closed since. The Mélac-Häuschen, built 1529, recalls 1688, when a local woman is said to have offered herself to the French general Mélac to save the town; the attempt failed and he caused heavy destruction.

Access to the fortress complex is from the northern side via a bridge connecting the cannon hill and the economic buildings. Wear comfortable shoes as some areas sit on hillsides with uneven ground.

The fortifications successfully repelled Duke Ulrich of Württemberg's assault in 1519 following his capture of neighboring Reutlingen. This successful defense made Esslingen one of the few towns in the region that could withstand the overpowering force.