Why is the tower called Hexenturm (Witches' Tower)?

The name first appears in 1817 and stems from romantic legends of the 19th century, unrelated to any actual witch trials.

How old is the tower?

Archaeological analysis dates its construction to around the 12th or 13th century.

Was the tower part of a castle?

It likely served as the keep of an earlier fortified complex whose other structures have since disappeared.

What materials was it built from?

Builders reused stone from the old Roman Eifel aqueduct, along with tuff and trachyte from the Drachenfels.

Can visitors go inside the tower?

No verified information on opening hours or visiting conditions is currently available.

Hexenturm (Walberberg)

Bornheim

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Bornheim

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Hexenturm (Walberberg) stands in Bornheim (Rhein-Sieg-Kreis), in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. No visits are on record for this building.

The Hexenturm in Walberberg is a round medieval tower that, together with the neighbouring parish church, marks the centre of this district of Bornheim. Despite its name, which evokes witches, it has no proven connection to witch persecutions and owes its designation to romantic legends that arose in the 19th century. Built probably around the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, it likely served as the keep of a castle complex that no longer exists. Its base walls still contain reused Roman material taken from the old Eifel aqueduct.

What to know

The tower stands in the centre of Walberberg, a district of Bornheim, next to the parish church.
It is listed as a Baudenkmal in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The tower has five storeys and reaches a height of about 18.30 metres.
The original entrance was on the first floor, likely reached by ladder, before a ground-floor door was later added.
No opening hours, admission fees, or accessibility details are currently available.

Where this château is

Bornheim · Rhein-Sieg-Kreis · Nordrhein-Westfalen

Map of the area around Hexenturm (Walberberg)

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

53332 Bornheim-Walberberg

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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4.3 / 5from 9 Google reviews

Heritage status: Baudenkmal in Nordrhein-Westfalen

In pictures

Frequently asked

Why is the tower called Hexenturm (Witches' Tower)?: The name first appears in 1817 and stems from romantic legends of the 19th century, unrelated to any actual witch trials.
How old is the tower?: Archaeological analysis dates its construction to around the 12th or 13th century.
Was the tower part of a castle?: It likely served as the keep of an earlier fortified complex whose other structures have since disappeared.
What materials was it built from?: Builders reused stone from the old Roman Eifel aqueduct, along with tuff and trachyte from the Drachenfels.
Can visitors go inside the tower?: No verified information on opening hours or visiting conditions is currently available.