Leuchtturm List Ost

The red-and-white striped List Ost lighthouse stands on the Ellenbogen peninsula of Sylt, the northernmost island in Germany. It is the second-northernmost lighthouse in the country, just south of its twin, List West. Built in 1857 and lit on New Year’s Day 1858, the tower has been remotely controlled since 1977. In 2003 engineers still warned that the cliff edge nearby might collapse, but by 2007 the erosion had stopped.

List Ost and its twin are the oldest cast-iron lighthouses in Germany. Neither tower is open to the public, so visitors admire them from outside. The Ellenbogen itself is a narrow spit of dunes and sand where seals often rest on the beach.

From the path along the dunes there are wide views across the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. The red-and-white stripes make the lighthouse easy to spot from a distance. On clear days the Danish mainland can be seen low on the horizon. The stillness of the surrounding landscape contrasts with the constant work of the lighthouse, silently guiding ships day and night.