Lorenkenturm

The Lorenkenturm stands in Dülmen, a town in the Münster region, as one of the last surviving towers of the old town wall. Built of red brick, it once guarded the point where the Tiberbach stream entered the defences. The tower later became the town gaol and, in the early 20th century, housed transformers that supplied the centre with electricity. Traces of the curtain wall still cling to its sides, though no one knows how it came by its name. First mentioned in 1536, the tower is circular and rises slightly above its base on a row of corbelled bricks. Its modest height and solid construction reflect the modest ambitions of a small medieval town. The single chamber inside is now empty, its past roles long ended, yet the building remains a quiet witness to Dülmen’s history. A short walk from the market square, the tower sits beside the modern street that follows the old ramparts. Visitors can circle the brick shaft and see the surviving wall fragments on both sides. From the pavement there is little noise, only the occasional passer-by pausing to notice the small round shape against the sky.