The popular and about 19 m high Ottoturm above the town of Kirchen (Sieg) in the Druiden.Hexen.Siegerland was built twice, once in 1911 and again completely new nearly 100 years later. Here, from the height of the Kahlberg, we enjoy the beautiful "panoramic view" into the Siegtal, towards the Freusburg and up to the heights of the Westerwald. Numerous hiking trails, such as the Druidensteig, Natursteig Sieg, Ottoturm and Druidenweg, lead directly past the tower.
The first Ottoturm was built in 1911 on the Kahlberg (405.9 meters above sea level) and completed in September of the same year. In May 1912, during the festivities of a spring and folk festival, the inauguration was celebrated. The local industrialist Otto Stein made significant financial contributions towards the construction of the first tower, earning him great recognition. The tower was named in his honor. Older residents still recount how a lengthy search for the most suitable location for the tower near the summit of the Weißenstein took place. Later, transporting the heavy iron parts to the mountain height presented various challenges. The very first transport vehicle, which aimed to go from the church station to the height, collapsed under the heavy load at Höferwald. On January 26, 2006, the old Ottoturm had to be closed for safety reasons and was finally demolished on May 19, 2009.
To rebuild the Ottoturm, the "Association for the Preservation of Cultural Historical Sites in the City of Kirchen - Friends of Ottoturm e.V." was founded on December 8, 2006. A dedicated sponsor was sought and found for each of the 102 steps of the new tower, and they contributed a donation of 500 euros per step. Today, all step sponsors are commemorated on small plaques from the first step up to the observation platform. On June 17, 2010, representatives of the support association, the Kirchener administration, and politicians gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony. In just 5 days, the new steel construction was fully erected from August 16 to 20, 2010, allowing a small number of political guests and those responsible for the construction to enjoy the view for the first time during an inaugural ascent on August 28, 2010.
An official opening festival was held to officially inaugurate the new Ottoturm on September 5, 2010. The construction of the tower incurred a total cost of 130,000 euros. With an impressive donation total of around 70,000 euros, the association “Friends of Ottoturm e.V.” made a substantial contribution itself. This demonstrates that people feel a strong connection to "their" Ottoturm, even beyond the city limits of Kirchen (Sieg). The now 18.59-meter tall tower is a popular destination for excursions in good weather and invites visitors for a stroll or hike. It offers an excellent panoramic view into the Siegtal, towards Freusburg, and all the way to the heights of the Westerwald.
Contact and directions
Auf dem Kahlberg
57548 Kirchen-Herkersdorf
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