Powder Tower, Krems

The Powder Tower in Krems on the Danube is a massive round tower that forms the northeast corner of the former city fortifications and thus towers over the city when approaching it from the east. It could be called the second landmark of Krems because of its characteristic location. As part of the city wall, it dates back to the late 15th century, but it was originally flat-roofed and served as a battery tower.

The town view by Matthäus Merian shows this condition and describes it as a "lug into the country", its conical roof was only given in the 18th century. For safety reasons, its function as a gunpowder depot was abandoned in 1752 and this was moved to a place outside the city to Gneixendorf, where, however, there was an explosion disaster in 1851.