Neuwerk Tower, Insel Neuwerk, Germany

The Great Tower Neuwerk is the most significant building of the Neuwerk island, belonging to Hamburg. This former beacon, watchtower and lighthouse is also the oldest building in Hamburg and oldest secular building on the German coast.

The construction was started in 1300. It was completed after ten years in 1310. The style matches the common norman tower type of the time. Contrary to some literature, the tower was built in this form from the beginning. The fire in the 1360s destroyed most of the wooden elements and it had to undergo major reconstruction.

The original roof was made of lead, and was replaced by copper in 1474. This was again replaced in 1558 by a tiled roof and by a new copper roof following that. The copper was then used for military purposes in 1916 reconstructed later.

The original purpose was to host troops to defend the ships entering and leaving the Elbe from sea and beach pirates. The tower was also refuge for the farmers on the island during storm surges and survivors of shipwrecks over the centuries.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Insel Neuwerk 1, Insel Neuwerk, Germany

See all sites in Insel Neuwerk

Details

Founded: 1300-1310
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)

More Information

www.hamburg-travel.com
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Bederkesa Castle (39,4 km)

User Reviews

Stuart Bratton (2 years ago)
Amazing lighthouse with a lot of history. Highly recommend visiting. Note that if you are taller that coming down the stairs is an issue and you should watch your head.

Norman Paykert (3 years ago)
The lighthouse is very beautiful and the oldest building in Hamburg. The island of Neuwerk is the northernmost part of Hamburg and has 35 inhabitants. Unfortunately, the tower will probably not be open to the public until 2026 due to construction work. We took the Wattwagen to the island which was lovely. Unfortunately, all Wattwagen tours only have a 1-hour stay on the island. So there's not much to look at. It is still worth a trip and was very idyllic.

Alexandra Mara (3 years ago)
Lovely experience.

Mettberg Jörn (4 years ago)
Nice

Sebastián Cárdenas (6 years ago)
Amazing and simple life

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

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Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Neuwerk Tower