Römerturm
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42 reviews
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20minutetourist
Brockville, Canada326 contributions
Dec 2022
Okay, it's small, not a castle, and it's attached to somewhat modern architecture. But, when in Cologne, why not go see the few remains left from the Roman occupation? I find myself in awe, looking at things built several thousand years ago. The Romertun is well worth a trip to pay homage to the near-original builders of Cologne.
Written December 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ANGELO V
Milan, Italy4,529 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
Shortly after making Cologne a Roman colony, the Romans began building the new city wall (about four kilometers long, with 19 towers and 9 gates). The "Römerturm" is one of these towers, and it is a well-preserved one. It was built around 50 AD. It is decorated with an elaborate natural stone mosaic on its field side.
From 1304 the construction of the Klarissenkloster Sankt Clara began near the Römerturm, and the nuns used the tower as a latrine. This is the main reason why the tower was not destroyed.
In 1873 the tower was bought by the Municipality of Cologne, and saved from the planned demolition.
Currently it is a private property and can be seen only from outside.
From 1304 the construction of the Klarissenkloster Sankt Clara began near the Römerturm, and the nuns used the tower as a latrine. This is the main reason why the tower was not destroyed.
In 1873 the tower was bought by the Municipality of Cologne, and saved from the planned demolition.
Currently it is a private property and can be seen only from outside.
Written July 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK185,662 contributions
Sept 2019
As others have already mentioned, this tower was part of the old Roman fortifications. The city has certainly done a good conservation job as the tower is in remarkably good condition and many of the decorations such as geometric patterns that adorn the exterior are well preserved.
It doesn't appear to be possible to enter the tower, what you see from the outside is all you get. It's interesting, but well off the tourist circuit in Cologne. So I wouldn't go out of the way to see it.
It doesn't appear to be possible to enter the tower, what you see from the outside is all you get. It's interesting, but well off the tourist circuit in Cologne. So I wouldn't go out of the way to see it.
Written September 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil K
Liverpool, UK829,679 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
My twin brother Stephen and I were heading to The Jameson Distillery Pub when we came across this awesome looking tower.
It's a Roman tower that was once part of the Roman walls and looks amazing and gives an insight into the might of the Roman empire.
What I found amazing about this important piece of German history is the fact that it is not advertised anywhere,what information I gleamed about it was gained from TripAdvisor,this really should be such a popular tourist attraction,it's obviously an important piece of architectural history.
I took some great photos of this tower and when I get back to my home town of Liverpool I intend to look up more information on this tower.
You will find this Roman tower on Zeughausstraße.
Well worth checking out.
It's a Roman tower that was once part of the Roman walls and looks amazing and gives an insight into the might of the Roman empire.
What I found amazing about this important piece of German history is the fact that it is not advertised anywhere,what information I gleamed about it was gained from TripAdvisor,this really should be such a popular tourist attraction,it's obviously an important piece of architectural history.
I took some great photos of this tower and when I get back to my home town of Liverpool I intend to look up more information on this tower.
You will find this Roman tower on Zeughausstraße.
Well worth checking out.
Written December 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trainbleu
Brussels, Belgium37,503 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
A walk along Zeughausstrasse offers some surprising views. First there is the so-called “Flügelauto”, a golden car spreading eagle-like wings on top of the former armoury (“Zeughaus”), now City Museum. The contrast between the old building (around 1600) in Dutch renaissance style and the car by German artist HA Schult from 1991 is striking but not unappealing. It makes for some quirky pictures.
Just a few steps further along Zeughausstrasse, at the corner of St. Apernstrasse, the combination of a roman tower and a neo-gothic house is an even weirder sight. The tower (Römerturm) was part of the almost 4 kilometres long defensive wall surrounding the Roman colony that later became Cologne. Other interesting remains of it are scattered all over town. The Roman tower is really beautiful. It is decorated with intricate patterns formed by white, red, grey and almost black stones. On sunny days it is particularly vibrant.
The tower has a turbulent past. While many Roman remains were used as quarries in the Middle Ages, the tower survived because it was incorporated into a (now disappeared) monastery of Poor Clares using it as a dumping site. In the beginning of the 19th century, it was converted into multi-story housing but, when the town acquired the tower in 1874, all extensions were removed. Unfortunately some twenty years later a neo-gothic house by architect Carl Moritz was built right next to it and a ridiculous crenelated parapet, which deserves to be photoshopped away, was added. At present, the tower is privately owned and cannot be visited.
Just a few steps further along Zeughausstrasse, at the corner of St. Apernstrasse, the combination of a roman tower and a neo-gothic house is an even weirder sight. The tower (Römerturm) was part of the almost 4 kilometres long defensive wall surrounding the Roman colony that later became Cologne. Other interesting remains of it are scattered all over town. The Roman tower is really beautiful. It is decorated with intricate patterns formed by white, red, grey and almost black stones. On sunny days it is particularly vibrant.
The tower has a turbulent past. While many Roman remains were used as quarries in the Middle Ages, the tower survived because it was incorporated into a (now disappeared) monastery of Poor Clares using it as a dumping site. In the beginning of the 19th century, it was converted into multi-story housing but, when the town acquired the tower in 1874, all extensions were removed. Unfortunately some twenty years later a neo-gothic house by architect Carl Moritz was built right next to it and a ridiculous crenelated parapet, which deserves to be photoshopped away, was added. At present, the tower is privately owned and cannot be visited.
Written May 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crvan
Weston, FL719 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
Located near the old Roman wall, the Roman tower is worth a quick visit. It is easy to miss and there is not much information on it. Not certain if you can visit the inside of the tower but at the time we visited it, everything appeared to be closed. Great place to visit for history buffs.
Written April 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack B
Ronald, WA1,308 contributions
Sept 2016 • Solo
We were walking down the Zeughausstrasse and I see this cool looking tower. No sign or anything, but I take a few pictures and move on. I research it when I return home - it is the base of a Roman tower that was part of the defense wall of the town that eventually became Köln. Many items like this turned into quarries over the centuries - pulled down and the building materials recycled. This was preserved because it was incorporated into an abbey and in it's newest use, as the corner of a building from the 1600s. 2000 years old and I still don't see masonry any more beautiful.
So much history everywhere, yet not a even a sign as there is just too much to document.
So much history everywhere, yet not a even a sign as there is just too much to document.
Written November 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jordanellie41
Longridge, UK1,074 contributions
Mar 2016
Again, like many of my other reviews this tower should be preserved and individually set aside to be viewed in all it's glory. Unfortunately, it is part of the local High Street and even has the next door building built into the side of the tower.
Written March 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TAIN2013
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia2,859 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
The best preserved of the nineteen towers forming the Roman fortifications of the city, the crenelated tower stood at the northwestern corner of the ancient city wall. It is beautifully decorated with patterns made using rocks of different shades.
Today the tower is surrounded by the high-rises of the modern city but stands out due to its contrasting architecture. It serves as a reminder of the ancient city that once stood here. It is a testament to the skill of the Roman engineers who built it given its excellent state of preservation almost two thousand years after its construction.
Today the tower is surrounded by the high-rises of the modern city but stands out due to its contrasting architecture. It serves as a reminder of the ancient city that once stood here. It is a testament to the skill of the Roman engineers who built it given its excellent state of preservation almost two thousand years after its construction.
Written July 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harrison F. Carter
Auckland, New Zealand12,826 contributions
Aug 2021 • Solo
I was on a self-guided tour by bicycle so it was quick and easy to see... Wouldn't have been worth the effort to me had I been on foot.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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