Kaiser Wilhelm Tower (observation tower), Herne-Sodingen

The observation tower can be climbed. But you have to pick up the key in advance in one of three places (see photo) and then - logically - bring back.

"On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Wilhelm II, the water tower in Volkspark Sodingen was inaugurated on 13/14 July 1913. In honor of the German Emperor, he also got his name: More than 100,000 visitors came to the inauguration of the tower and park Especially for the inhabitants of today's Herne district Sodingen, the tower was in the subsequent period as a landmark identity donating.The design for the octagonal tower is by the famous Essen architect Alfred Fischer (1881-1950). The reinforced concrete structure stands on a pedestal and is 31.5 meters high without the crown. The tower leads to an observation platform, which can be reached via a stone spiral staircase made of iron at the top. The client was the coal mine Mont Cenis, which was built with the financial support of the Office Sodingen the water and lookout tower on the then own mine premises. With his two basins of 350 and 80 cubic meters, which no longer exist today, he supplied until 1939, the nearby coal mine with water.During the Second World War, the tower served as an observatory, since 1980, it is restricted to the public. In 1979, the building was extensively renovated and supplemented by a 2.5 meter high and 1.6 meter wide brass weather vane. Since 1988, the Kaiser Wilhelm Tower, which is in municipal ownership, has been on the list of Herne monuments. "Source: route-industriekultur.ruhr/themenrouten/28-wasser-werke-tuerme-und-turbinen/kaiser -Wilhelm-turm.html

It is an old water tower of the former Mont Cenis colliery. The tower can be visited as a vantage point. Mon-Fri from 1 p.m. until dusk or late 9 p.m., Sat, Sun, public holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This requires picking up a key to access the tower from one of the following locations. - LAGO leisure pool ticket office Mon-Sat 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. - Academy Mont-Cenis reception Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Südfriedhof office Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (core times)