Helenenturm, Observation tower in Witten, Germany
The Helenenturm is a stone observation tower in Witten standing about 30 meters tall with a climb of more than 140 steps to reach the top. Once there, visitors find a viewing platform with views across the city and the surrounding Ruhr region.
A wealthy lawyer built this tower in 1858 as a memorial to his wife, funding the project with money from a legal settlement. The structure has shaped Witten's skyline ever since.
The tower carries the name of a 19th-century woman as a lasting memorial in the city landscape. Visitors learn this personal story during guided tours as they climb to the top.
The tower opens for group visits only, with tours arranged through the Tourist Service at Rathausplatz. Wear comfortable sturdy shoes for the climb, as the stairs are steep and winding through multiple levels.
In 1886, a photographer captured a complete 360-degree view of Witten from the tower's platform, an extraordinary technical achievement for that era. This image preserves what the city looked like more than 130 years ago.
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