Olympia-Glockenturm

The Bell Tower at the Maifeld is a 77.17-meter-tall (253-foot) observation tower on Berlin's Olympic grounds in the Westend district. It was built between 1934 and 1936 to designs by Werner March and originally served as an observation post for event organizers, police, and the media during the 1936 Summer Olympics. The steel-frame structure was clad in limestone slabs. During construction, the tower was known as the "Führerturm" (Führer Tower), and the so-called "Führerstand" (Führer's stand) was located below it. Together with the Langemarck Hall and a hill, the tower forms the western boundary of the Maifeld.

After World War II, the tower was blown up in 1947 because a fire in the neighboring Reich Film Archive had left it structurally unsound. The original Olympic Bell fell to the ground and was so badly damaged that it could not be reused. It was later buried, rediscovered in 1956, and can now be seen as a memorial on the south side of the Olympic Stadium. Between 1960 and 1962, the tower was rebuilt according to the original plans. It now holds a new, lighter steel Olympic Bell decorated with the federal eagle, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Olympic rings.

Today the Bell Tower is a popular destination for day trips. It is open daily from April 1 to November 1, and an express elevator takes you up to the observation platforms. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Olympic Park, the Olympic Stadium, the Waldbühne amphitheater, and the Murellenberge nature reserve. In good weather, the view stretches across Berlin to Alexanderplatz and out to the surrounding countryside. The ground floor and first floor are currently undergoing renovation work; in the long term, the Sports Museum Berlin is slated to move in here.