thumb|Grunewaldturm and River Havel in Berlin
thumb|The western facade
The Grunewald Tower or is a historical tower in the Grunewald forest of southwestern Berlin, Germany, built in 1897-99 according to plans designed by Franz Heinrich Schwechten. The viewing platform offers a view over the Havel at a height of .
Overview
In 1897 Teltow, a rural district of the Province of Brandenburg, mandated the construction of a memorial tower to mark the 100th birthday of the German Emperor Wilhelm I (d. 1888). On June 9, 1899 the landmark was opened to the public as "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Turm" (), though the inscription on the eastern facade reads "Koenig Wilhelm I zum Gedaechtniss" (to King William I, in memory), as he was also king of Prussia.
Elizabeth of Wied, queen consort of Romania, visited the top of the tower in March 1916, during World War I. She was elderly and it took her over two and a half hours to make it to the top, from which she waved at a crowd of about 350 people below. Elizabeth, who was an accomplished writer and translator, died the following day.
In 1948, following World War II, the tower was renamed Grunewaldturm, The necessary renovation cost 1.5 million euros and lasted until Easter 2011, reopening on April 22.
Since the 1990s, the tower has also doubled as a cell tower.
204 steps lead to a platform offering a panoramic view over the Havelland region and the Grunewald forest. The building has a restaurant and a beer garden.
References
See also
- Grunewald (locality)
- List of towers