Schiefer Turm von Dausenau

The Schiefer Turm von Dausenau stands in the small riverside village of Dausenau in the Rhein-Lahn district of Rheinland-Pfalz. It is part of the old town wall built after the village gained town rights in 1348. The tower was completed around 1359 and once marked the exit towards Nassau. In the early 19th century, part of the wall below the tower was removed to lower the road, leaving the tower standing alone. Its tilt of 5.22 degrees makes it the second most inclined tower in the world after Suurhusen. Measurements began in the early 20th century using plaster seals to track movement. The tower was once about 25 metres tall but was shortened by 7.5 metres in 1950 to reduce its lean. Despite this, it remains slightly more tilted than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Visitors see a free-standing stone tower with a striking tilt against the backdrop of the Lahn valley. The surrounding area is now quiet, as the main road bypasses the site. The tower’s exposed position shows how the loss of its supporting wall and changes in groundwater levels contributed to its lean. Nearby, the remains of the old town wall and the Beulspforte gate add to the historic setting.