Harkort-Tower, Stone observation tower in Alt-Wetter, Germany

The Harkort Tower is a 35-metre observation tower on the Harkortberg in Wetter (Ruhr), built in 1884 to a design by Otto van Els and Bruno Schmitz. Its architecture recalls medieval castles, with Gothic pointed arches in the openings of the lower terrace. A staircase of 130 steps leads to the viewing platform, which looks over the Harkortsee lake towards the Sauerland.

The tower was built in 1884 and named after Friedrich Harkort, an industrial pioneer who shaped the region's development. This monument dates from a period when the expansion of these areas was advancing and such structures served as places for observation and gathering.

The tower is a memorial to Friedrich Harkort, the Ruhr industrialist and politician in whose honour it was built shortly after his death. It was financed by private donations, and the design came from a competition won by Otto van Els and Bruno Schmitz. Since 2011 it has been listed on the Route of Industrial Heritage of the Ruhr region.

The tower is reachable via marked hiking trails along the Ruhrhöhenweg, which lead through the surrounding nature. Sports facilities and recreational areas in the nearby vicinity make the visit a varied experience.

The tower's 1882 design came from a competition won by Otto van Els and Bruno Schmitz, then only 23; Schmitz later became one of Germany's best-known monument architects. The estimated cost rose from 15,000 to 20,000 marks, and building only began once further donations covered the difference.