Does the Bucksturm look like it has stories to tell? It certainly does. The Bucksturm stands on the Bocksmauer in Osnabrück. Its history stretches back to the 13th century.
Let’s dive into the past. The Bucksturm once served as a vital part of Osnabrück’s medieval town wall. It was originally known as the Bocksturm. Imagine this tower standing tall. It was a watchtower. It guarded the city until the 19th century. That’s when most of the town’s defenses were torn down.
Guards used the Bucksturm for more than just spotting danger. The tower had open sides. Guards could easily access it from the city wall. During the cold winter months, they warmed themselves with braziers inside the tower. You can still see the former entrances to this semi-circular tower today.
Originally, the Bucksturm soared to about 28 meters high. It was the city’s highest fortification tower. However, time took its toll. In 1805, ten meters had to be removed due to dilapidation. Now, the Bucksturm stands at 18 meters. It has four stories.
The Bucksturm has a diameter of 10.7 meters. Its embrasures are relatively small. This suggests it wasn’t built for cannons. Instead, it was intended for smaller handguns.
Now, glance at the west side of the Bucksturm. You will see a war memorial. The sculptor Hermann Hosaeus created it. It honors the infantry regiment “Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig” No. 78. The memorial was inaugurated on October 1, 1922.
Other remnants of Osnabrück’s old fortifications remain. These include the Neustädter Turm, the Pernickelturm, the Plümersturm and the Vitschanze. You can also stroll along the Herrenteichswall. It is surrounded by lime trees along the River Hase. The interior of the Bucksturm is currently closed.
Ever wonder how the Bucksturm got its name? Medieval Osnabrück had to defend itself. It didn’t have enough soldiers. So, partnerships were formed with noble families. They defended sections of the city wall. In return, they received financial compensation. The family “von Buck” was responsible for the section where the Bucksturm stands. The noble families marked their sections with their heraldic animals. The “von Buck” family used a buck. A buck’s head on the tower’s top floor signaled their section. Soldiers knew which part of the wall they had to defend.
The Bucksturm gained historical significance as a city prison. Count Simon von der Lippe was imprisoned here for six years in 1305. Anabaptist delegates from Münster were also held here in 1534. The “Johanniskasten” on the second floor is the most famous feature. It was a box made of solid oak planks. Prisoners were held here from the 13th century. Johann von Hoya, a robber baron, was its most famous inmate. He was held as a prisoner of war from 1441 to 1448.
During the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries, the Bucksturm served as a torture chamber. Between 1490 and 1639, 260 deaths were recorded in Osnabrück. Osnabrück became a center of witch hunts. Power politics and religious conflicts fueled these events. The city council conducted trials as summary proceedings. Alleged witches were tortured in the Bucksturm. They were then burned or drowned. Some died during torture. Gustav Gustavson, the Swedish sovereign, ended the persecution in 1639.
Anna Ameldung was the last victim of the Osnabrück witch hunts. She was the wife of council pharmacist Heinrich Ameldung. She was beheaded near the Bucksturm on October 7, 1636.