Kiekinpott

A tall brick tower stands on the south-west corner of Zerbst’s old town wall. It was built in 1396 to strengthen the stretch between the Akens Gate and the prince’s castle just outside the ramparts. The Bohner Nuthe stream flows immediately south of the tower, adding to the medieval setting. The tower’s name comes from a 14th-century quarrel. Prince Siegmund tried to have it pulled down because it overlooked his castle kitchens. The townspeople lost the legal fight but paid 900 marks in silver, and the nickname Kiekinpott—Low German for ‘peek in the pot’—has stuck ever since. Inside, a fireplace and windows show how the upper chamber once served as a guardroom. Visitors can walk around the tower’s square base and look up at the brickwork. The Bohner Nuthe’s banks nearby offer quiet spots to rest. From the top windows the castle grounds are still visible, the same view the Zerbsters once used to watch their prince’s kitchen.