Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Castles

Blown-up Tower (Krautturm), Heidelberg Castle

Castles

Blown-up Tower (Krautturm), Heidelberg Castle

Highlight • Castle

Blown-up Tower (Krautturm), Heidelberg Castle

Recommended by 271 hikers out of 286

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Naturpark Neckartal-Odenwald

Save

Location: Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Blown-up Tower (Krautturm), Heidelberg Castle

4.7

(151)

1,237

hikers

1. Heidelberg Old Town – Heidelberg Castle loop from Weststadt

6.36km

01:48

130m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

4.6

(166)

896

hikers

2. Heidelberg Castle – Heidelberg Old Town loop from Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof

13.6km

04:24

520m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.8

(143)

782

hikers

3. View of Heidelberg Castle – Heidelberg Castle loop from Heidelberg-Altstadt

10.8km

03:06

230m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

Tips

Kristian

December 17, 2022

The tower was blown up by French soldiers in 1693 during the Palatinate War of Succession after a mine detonation in 1689 had fizzled out without effect. The mighty shell of the wall still rests on the pile of rubble from back then. During the blasting, the joint material proved to be more resistant than the red sandstone from which the tower was bricked.

Translated by Google •

🇺🇦Uwe 🏃‍♂️1098🏍

December 18, 2022

The name Krautturm can be traced back to the 17th century. It apparently comes from the fact that the lowest floor was used as a herb magazine (“herb” = powder). This name was later replaced by the term “blasted tower”.

The tower was blown up in 1693 by French soldiers in the Palatinate War of Succession after a mine explosion in 1689 had failed to have any effect. The mighty wall shell still rests on the cone of rubble from that time. During the explosion, the joint material proved to be more resistant than the red sandstone from which the tower was built.

The tower was originally about 28 meters high. In 1610 it was extended to 42.50 meters. Today, as a ruin, it still stands 33 meters high.

One of the admirers of this ruin was Johann Wolfgang Goethe, who drew this tower on September 23, 1779 from the bridge over the moat. Goethe visited Heidelberg eight times, but kept quiet about his fourth visit. Researchers only discovered it in 1899. Apparently, secret political plans, possibly the creation of a league of princes against the superior power of Frederick the Great, had led him to Heidelberg. In any case, Karl August and Goethe interrupted their Swiss trip in Heidelberg on September 23, 1779 and spent the whole afternoon at the castle. Duke Karl August "crawled around in the beautiful old ruins" while Goethe made the earliest drawing of the destroyed powder tower.
Source: Wikipedia

Translated by Google •

Chrisdschän

February 14, 2023

The forces at work back then were fascinating. Kinda nice to see how thick this tower is. It's also a pity, because it would certainly be nice to see what it would look like if it were still intact.

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Elevation 190 m

Weather

Today

Wednesday 5 November

14°C

4°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Heiligenbergturm and Stephanskloster Ruins

Heidelberg Marktplatz

View of Heidelberg and the Neckar River from Haarlass

Karlsplatz With View of Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg Castle Ruins

Heidelberg Castle Moat and View of the Castle

View of the Old Bridge Heidelberg

Blown-up Tower (Krautturm), Heidelberg Castle

1. Heidelberg Old Town – Heidelberg Castle loop from Weststadt

2. Heidelberg Castle – Heidelberg Old Town loop from Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof

3. View of Heidelberg Castle – Heidelberg Castle loop from Heidelberg-Altstadt

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️