Olympiaturm

The Olympiaturm stands in Munich’s Olympic Park, a tall steel lattice tower built for the 1972 Games. It rises 291 metres above the park’s flat lawns and paths, its narrow shaft carrying lifts and broadcast aerials. Near the base, the park’s curved roofs and glass walls form a backdrop of modern architecture. The tower’s grey steel frame contrasts with the green trees planted around its wide concrete foundation. Inside the park, paths lead visitors past fountains and sports fields towards the tower’s entrance. The tower is worth the journey because it has welcomed over 43 million visitors since it opened in 1968. At 182 metres, a revolving restaurant turns once every 53 minutes, seating 230 guests who watch the city drift past. Higher up, at 190 metres, an observation deck and a small exhibition mark the tower’s 50th anniversary. The lifts carry visitors to the top in about 30 seconds, while a maintenance elevator climbs at 4 metres per second. Broadcast signals from the tower reach homes across southern Bavaria through dozens of radio and television channels. A visitor finds two lifts and a maintenance elevator serving the tower. The visitor lifts hold about 30 people each and travel at 7 metres per second. The observation deck offers wide views over Munich’s rooftops and the distant Alps. The exhibition space recalls the tower’s history and the rock-and-roll memorabilia once housed there. Below, the park’s open spaces and water features provide a calm setting before or after the ascent.