Kaiser-Wilhelm-Turm, Observation tower in Adenau, Germany
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Turm is a stone observation tower near Adenau, Rhineland-Palatinate, sitting close to the summit of the Hohen Acht, the highest peak in the Eifel region. The tower is about 54 feet (16 m) tall, has a square shaft with narrow windows, and ends in an octagonal section at the top.
The tower was built in the early 1900s to honor Kaiser Wilhelm I, the first German emperor, and was officially opened in 1909. It was listed as a protected cultural monument in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1987.
The tower is within walking distance of Adenau's town center, and parking is available nearby for those arriving by car. The interior staircase is narrow, so comfortable, sturdy shoes are a good idea before climbing.
The tower was closed for years after World War II: first by French forces, then until 1959 because a US radar unit used it. A 1961 report in the Eifelverein journal noted that after two months of renovation the old stone stairs inside had been torn out and replaced with concrete steps.
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