Goetheturm

The Goethe Tower in Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen is a 43-meter-tall (141-foot) observation tower built entirely of wood, standing on the northern edge of the Stadtwald (city forest). Named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the structure was the tallest publicly accessible wooden tower in Germany until 1999. The history of the site goes back to the 19th century, when first an observation pavilion and later a smaller wooden tower were built. The present tower was financed in 1931 by a donation from the merchant Gustav Gerst and was officially opened shortly before the Goethe anniversary year. After an extensive renovation in the early 1980s, the tower also served for a long time as a transmission mast for mobile phone and television signals.

In October 2017, the tower was completely destroyed by arson, which led to calls for its reconstruction. A public survey came out in favor of a faithful reconstruction by a majority. Between 2019 and 2020, the tower was rebuilt by the company Holzbau Amann. The new structure differs visually from its predecessor only in its lighter color, while steel elements were integrated at several joints to increase resistance to moisture and make maintenance easier. The tower has been open to the public again since April 2021.

Visitors can climb 196 steps, which lead past twelve intermediate landings with wooden benches, to reach the covered observation platform at a height of 39.5 meters. From there, you get a wide panorama that once stretched as far as Frankfurt's southeastern suburbs. The tower is open daily from April to October, from morning until the evening hours. The surrounding area is a popular recreation spot, especially for families. At the foot of the tower is the three-hectare Spielpark Goetheturm playground, which features a giant slide, a wading pool, and a maze. An adjacent beer garden invites you to linger. Public transportation access is good, with several bus lines serving the area, and a large parking lot is available for those arriving by car.