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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Ruins of the Pelzerturm

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Places to see

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Ruins of the Pelzerturm

Highlight • Historical Site

Ruins of the Pelzerturm

Recommended by 220 hikers out of 235

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Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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Best Hikes to Ruins of the Pelzerturm

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1. Wolf Gorge and summit joy

8.14km

02:16

160m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.9

(16)

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2. Diepenbenden Reservoir – Seven Ways Shelter loop from Steinebrück

6.12km

01:45

140m

Moderate hike. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.4

(15)

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3. Wolfsschlucht – Ruins of the Pelzerturm loop from Preuswald

8.22km

02:17

150m

140m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

Tips

Silke mit Yuna & Yomi

January 13, 2017

Here, at the highest point of the city forest, there was once a lookout tower. The Pelzerturm, named after the former mayor Ludwig Pelzer, was blown up by American troops in 1944. Today there are only a few pieces of rock left lying around. What a shame actually! Must have been a nice observation tower.

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MariLu 🚴🏼‍♀️🚶‍♀️

October 4, 2020

The Pelzerturm has an interesting history, which is described on the information board. It's a shame he no longer exists.

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usbikeparts Nori

March 7, 2021

A photo shows the view you would have if the tower were still standing today. Aachen Cathedral is at the marked location.

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Jochen Vieß

May 7, 2022

It's hard to imagine that a tall tower once stood here.
After the last autumn storms, a lot of things were cut down here, but unfortunately they weren't cleared away, so you have to crawl around a bit

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April 2, 2018

From the more than 40 meters high tower you had a good view of the whole region. It lasted only 46 years, from 1899 until its demolition in October 1945.

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Robbimama

September 2, 2017

It's a pity that the tower does not exist anymore. You need imagination to introduce yourself there.

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R.Bungartz

February 12, 2023

The Pelzer Tower commemorates the popular Lord Mayor Ludwig Pelzer, who at the turn of the 19th/20th century Century worked in Aachen. On September 12, 1944, Pelzertum was taken by around 50 American soldiers. Previously it served (as the highest elevation in the Aachen city forest; located at around 360 meters above sea level) e.g. the defending flak as an observation post. In October 1944 the Pelzer Tower was blown up by American troops. Unfortunately, the tower was not rebuilt after World War II. Source: aachen-stadtgeschichte.de/aachener-geschichte-pelzerturm

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Nieres

January 8, 2023

The Pelzerturm was located on the Steineknipp hilltop, which at 358 m above sea level is the highest point in the Aachen city forest. The original construction consisted of mighty tree trunks and was built in 1886 at the suggestion of the head forester Franz Oster.

On July 14, 1899, the successor to this first tower was inaugurated near the original location. The new tower was built from rubble stones based on designs by the architect Hermann Jansen. Its floor plan was rectangular. It had a ground-floor porch and a double staircase. The tower had a platform with a gallery 27 m high and was 42 m high up to the weather vane. There was an intermediate floor about halfway up the platform. The roof of the tower was decorated with a turret with a pointed roof placed on the corner and carrying a weather vane and lightning rod. From the Pelzerturm there was a view as far as the town of Stolberg and further into the Aachen district and the High Fens. The Pelzerturm with its attached outdoor restaurant became a popular excursion destination. In addition, until 1945 there was a branch of the Aachen Meteorological Observatory at the foot of the Pelzerturm, which was equipped with an English hut.

The tower was named on March 30, 1915 after Ludwig Pelzer, the former mayor of the city of Aachen, who died on March 1, 1915. In 1944 the Pelzerturm was blown up by American troops. Today, scattered stone remains still show the former location.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelzerturm

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Frank Rmr

April 12, 2023

Only a few pieces of debris are reminiscent of the former lookout tower on the highest elevation of the Aachen Forest. Thanks to the information board that has been set up, you can get a good picture of it.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 370 m

Weather

Today

Sunday 16 November

11°C

2°C

20 %

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Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

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Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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Ruins of the Pelzerturm

1. Wolf Gorge and summit joy

2. Diepenbenden Reservoir – Seven Ways Shelter loop from Steinebrück

3. Wolfsschlucht – Ruins of the Pelzerturm loop from Preuswald

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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