Beneath our feet lies a secret. It is a remnant of Hamburg’s earliest days. We are standing before the Bischofsturm.
The Bischofsturm, or Bishop’s Tower, is not what it seems at first glance. Today, a modern commercial building stands above it. But beneath the surface lie the foundations of a circular tower. They whisper tales of 12th-century Hamburg.
In 1962, construction workers stumbled upon these foundations. They were digging for the St. Peter’s Community Center. At first, people thought they were just large rocks. But further digging revealed a significant find.
The Bischofsturm is the oldest known remains of a stone building in Hamburg. Initially, historians thought it was the residence of Archbishop Adalbrand. Adam of Bremen mentioned this residence in his writings from 1074. But excavations in 2008 changed everything.
These new excavations revealed that the tower was part of a defensive structure. It was built in the 12th century. The Bischofsturm stood just behind the Heidenwall. The Heidenwall was Hamburg’s first fortification. This tower may have been a city gate or part of one. Perhaps it was the Marien- or Schultor. These gates were named after the nearby Mariendom and Domschule.
Imagine this area in the 12th century. The Heidenwall protects the city. Just behind it stands the Bischofsturm, a strong stone tower. It is a vital part of Hamburg’s defenses.
The tower’s foundation is a circle of boulders. It has an outer diameter of 19 meters. Its inner diameter is 11 meters. Most of these stones are one meter or more in diameter. A well was found on the west side. It was four meters deep and 4.4 meters in diameter. The well was made of field stones. These stones were about 50 centimeters in diameter.
Since 1969, the foundations have been accessible to the public. A showroom was built in the basement of the community center. After another demolition and new construction in 2008, the showroom was redesigned. It became a branch of the Hamburg Archaeological Museum.
You could access it through a bakery. The bakery had a cafe among the tower’s foundations. This unique setup allowed visitors to enjoy refreshments. They could also explore Hamburg’s history. The Bischofsturm can also be viewed from the street. This is possible because of the ground floor’s full glazing.
The Bischofsturm is more than just old stones. It is a window into Hamburg’s past. It shows us how the city defended itself. It also reminds us of the layers of history beneath our feet.