Hinterturm, Medieval castle tower in Schlitz, Germany

Hinterturm is a 36-metre-high bergfried built in the 14th century, with dungeons beneath it. It served as a guard room and was originally reached only by a retractable bridge from the residential building of the Hinterburg, erected in 1553. Since the 17th century it has carried a baroque slate hood, replaced in 1906 by a stone cap.

The Hinterburg was first mentioned in 1493, while the Hinterturm itself was built in the 14th century as a 36-metre bergfried with dungeons beneath. The tower was originally reached only by a retractable bridge from the residential building erected in 1553. The main building was rebuilt between 1561 and 1565 and remodelled in 1647.

The Hinterturm is one of the five Schlitz castles—Hinterburg, Vorderburg, Ottoburg, Schachtenburg and the outlying Hallenburg—that were integrated into the town wall. Since 1991, during Advent it is draped to become the Schlitz Christmas Candle.

An elevator takes visitors to an observation platform with views across the town and surrounding landscape. The clearest views come on days with good weather when you can see far into the distance.

Since 1991 the 36-metre Hinterturm has been turned into the Schlitz Christmas candle during the pre-Christmas season, with the tower itself forming the candle body. The tower can only be reached by lift, and its baroque slate hood dates from the 17th century, replaced by a stone hood in 1906.