Bierbaums Nagel Observation Tower

A gentleman named Bierbaum, owner of the Borlinghausen manor, had the "Bierbaums Nagel" observation tower built in 1849 to give the rural population a way to earn money during economically difficult years. The tower was a surprise gift for his wife, who came from Kassel and suffered greatly from homesickness. From the tower she was to have the opportunity to see the landmark of her beloved hometown, the Hercules on the Wilhelmshöhe. It is not known whether Mrs. Bierbaum was cured of her homesickness in this way. The beautiful view is still worth climbing the tower today.

Further information is also available from Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bierbaums_Nagel

In 1849, Julius Bierbaum, banker and owner of the Borlinghausen estate, had the observation tower built to give the poor rural population an opportunity to earn money. The tower was a gift for his wife, who came from Kassel and suffered from homesickness, so that she could see Hercules, the landmark of her hometown of Kassel, from the tower when the weather was clear. She made the arduous climb on a donkey, which is why this path was and is called the "donkey path". In 1990, the observation tower was restored with funds from the NRW Foundation and has been accessible again since then. Bierbaum's Nail is located in the southern part of the Egge Mountains around 200 m east of the Eggeweg that runs through this low mountain range, around 1.5 km west-northwest of Borlinghausen. It stands on a small open space on a 431.4 m above sea level and predominantly heavily forested mountain.When visibility conditions are good, the tower's observation deck offers a view that extends to, among others, the Köterberg, the Schwalenburg near Willingen, the Desenberg in the Warburger Börde and the Herkules in Kassel.