Hagberg

The Hagberg is a hill in the Welzheim Forest, in the Ostalbkreis district of Baden-Württemberg. It stands 585.2 metres above sea level and is the second highest point in the Swabian-Franconian Forest. In earlier centuries it marked part of the border between the Swabians and Franks. The hill lies 2.4 kilometres west of the village of Gschwend. The Hagberg Tower is a 23-metre wooden observation tower built on a concrete base. It has two pagoda-like structures at the top and can be seen from far away. The first tower was built in 1901, then replaced before the First World War. The Schwäbischer Albverein took it over in 1936 and still runs it today. During the Second World War the Luftwaffe used it as an observation post and removed the upper pagoda. After repairs in 1949 and later in 1979–80, it reopened on 21 June 1980. From the two viewing platforms there are wide views on clear days, reaching as far as Stuttgart, Heilbronn, Crailsheim and Aalen. The tower also serves as the start of walks through the dense forests around Gschwend. A car park stands 500 metres away. The Schwäbischer Albverein organises guided tours and maintains the paths leading up the hill.