Leuchtturm Bremerhaven Unterfeuer

The Bremerhaven Unterfeuer stands beside the Willy-Brandt-Platz in the centre of Bremerhaven, next to the Zoo am Meer. Its unusual round shape with a white top and bulbous crown gives it the nickname ‘Minarett’ or ‘Zwiebelturm’. The tower was designed by Rudolf Rudloff, the harbour director, and built in 1893 of steel frames clad in plates. In 1992 it was moved fifty-six metres and raised to twenty-six metres so its light would no longer be blocked by passing ships. Since 1942 the light has been automatic, though it still flashes in the same rhythm as its partner half a kilometre away. The tower’s light sits twenty-one metres above high water and has guided ships down the Weser for more than a century. Originally powered by oil and later by gas, it now uses an electric lamp. Both the Unterfeuer and its companion Oberfeuer shine in unison, two seconds on and two seconds off, to mark the safe channel. The building has been protected as a monument since 1978 and even appears on a German postage stamp. Visitors reach the square by the waterfront promenade and can walk around the tower’s base. The white lantern room is set within the upper section of the tower, clearly visible from the quayside. Nearby the Zoo am Meer shows seals and other northern animals, while ships pass close by on the river. The spot offers views across the harbour basin and along the Weser towards the open sea.