A chilling tale whispers from the stones of Cologne’s Alter Turm. This isn’t just any tower. It’s the Kunibertsturm also known as the Weckschnapp. Its history is steeped in mystery and legend.
Built around 1233 the Kunibertsturm was part of a larger city gate. This gate was tragically destroyed in 1266 during a citizen’s uprising. Only the tower remained. That’s the tower you see before you today.
Legend speaks of terrible things. The Weckschnapp held prisoners. These unlucky souls faced a gruesome fate. They received no food or water. Their only hope of survival was a desperate gamble. A loaf of bread hung from the ceiling. To reach it a prisoner had to jump. But this triggered a trap door. The prisoner plunged into the Rhine River through a hole spiked with knives.
Only one prisoner is said to have escaped. He was the son of a wealthy merchant’s widow. He was accused of theft. Somehow he fell through the knives unharmed. He managed to swim to safety.
The truth is perhaps less dramatic. The Kunibertsturm was actually a place for harsh interrogations. A nearby structure called an Ark connected the tower to a fortification in the Rhine. This Ark sadly succumbed to a devastating flood in 1784.
Later in 1923 Mayor Konrad Adenauer commissioned architect Riphan to build a stunning panorama restaurant. The restaurant was beautiful and its base is still visible today.
The Alter Turm in Cologne. A survivor of uprisings floods and legends. It stands as a testament to Cologne’s enduring spirit. Its story continues to captivate visitors from around the world. Stand here and imagine those who came before you. Hear their stories in the wind rustling through the tower’s walls.