Granus Tower, Medieval tower in Aachen, Germany
The Granus Tower is a medieval structure standing beside Aachen Town Hall, built from local quarry stone. It measures roughly 9 meters on each side and rises about 20 meters high, with the interior containing several stacked vaulted rooms.
The tower was built in 788 AD as part of Charlemagne's imperial palace and ranks among the few remaining structures from that era. This building marks the beginning of a long history that shaped Aachen as a key site of early European rule.
The name comes from Grannus, a Celtic healing deity, reflecting the region's layered past. Inside, stairs connect different levels and create small chambers that still convey impressions from ancient times.
The tower sits right beside Town Hall in the center of the old town, making it easy to combine a visit with exploring other historic sites. The interior is relatively narrow and requires careful movement, especially when climbing stairs between the different levels.
The architecture shows clear influences from eastern building styles and uses separate stair systems rather than a continuous spiral staircase. This created intermediate levels and chambers that were unusual for the time and offered practical advantages when accessing different floors.
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