The Landturm (around 1408) near Lichtel is still very well preserved. The Landhege used to be impermeable to people, horses and carriages.
Entry into the area of the free imperial city of Rothenburg was only possible through the country towers (e.g. Lichtel or Heimberg).
Customs duty had to be paid there.
In the case of enemy troops, the heavy gates (bolts) were closed and resisted with force of arms.
Attempts to breach the Landhege were severely punished.
Hegereiter checked daily that no illegal breakthroughs were being built.
The Landturm was built with the heavy bricks from the destroyed Lichteler Castle.
The castle was destroyed in 1381 during the Swabian city war. In this war, the free imperial cities wanted to get rid of the knight's castles so that the nobility could no longer levy tolls.
Rothenburg writes: The Lords of Lichtel were robbers and highwaymen.
The solid construction of this tower prevented it from being demolished.
Most of these country towers were demolished around 1820, after the Landhege belonged to Württemberg from 1810. For example the Heimberger Landturm and the 3 gate towers in Wildentierbach.
Some towers were already destroyed in the Peasants' War around 1525/1526.