Krausberg Tower

The Krausbergturm stands on the 355-metre Krausberg above Dernau in the Ahr valley. Dernau lies on the Ahr river at the edge of the Ahr mountains, about thirty kilometres south of Bonn. The tower crowns the highest point in the Dernau municipal area, offering wide views over the valley and its vineyards. The Krausberg has been a lookout point since at least the 19th century. In 1884 a wooden observation tower was built there, replaced in 1906 by the present stone structure. The tower is 15 metres tall and has an external staircase leading to an observation platform. From the top, visitors can see the winding Ahr river, Dernau’s red roofs, and the surrounding hillsides covered with Riesling vines. The path to the tower starts near Dernau’s cemetery and climbs gently through mixed woodland. The route is about one kilometre long and takes around twenty minutes to walk. At the top, the platform is surrounded by a low metal railing. On clear days the Siebengebirge and the Eifel plateau appear in the distance. The tower itself is plain, with a small plaque recording its history.