Eschenheimer Turm

The Eschenheimer Turm, at the Eschenheimer Tor on the northern edge of the old centre of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, is a late Gothic gate tower completed in 1428. It was built as part of the city wall of the 14th and 15th centuries, designed by the master builder Madern Gerthener, and it served as the main northern gate, guarding the road leading north out of the city. The tower rises about 47 metres and has a square plan with a steep roof and corner turrets, which gave defenders views over the approaches to the city. It is among the oldest buildings in Frankfurt and one of the few survivors of the medieval fortifications. In the early 19th century the walls were taken down and turned into the ring of gardens known as the Wallanlagen, which surrounds the old town today, but the tower was kept because of its historic value. The structure survived the bombing of the Second World War better than many nearby buildings and was restored after the war. The tower was later adapted for new uses and now houses a restaurant, so access to the interior is for guests only. The architecture is typical of late medieval German city gates, with thick stone walls, a pointed roof and small windows. Visitors can see the exterior at any time from the busy junction and from the green belt, and a good view is from the Hauptwache side. The tower is a useful reminder that Frankfurt, now known for its skyline, was once a walled medieval trading city. It sits just a few minutes' walk from the Hauptwache and the shopping streets, and the Eschenheimer Tor U-Bahn station is directly beside it, which makes the stop simple to add to a day in the city centre. Its plain stone mass stands out against the glass towers of the nearby financial district.