Fangelturm, Neubrandenburg

Fangelturm, also known as Mönchenturm, in Neubrandenburg is a defensive tower of the medieval city wall of Neubrandenburg. It is located in Darrenstraße in the northern part of the city center. The Fangelturm was used as a city prison until the 19th century, as the name suggests. Nearby was a Franciscan monastery, after which the tower was also called the Monks' Tower.

The Fangelturm is one of formerly two defense towers, which were built in the 15th century in place of Wiekhäuser in the city wall. Both served to secure the city to the north and east to the Duchy of Pomerania. The other, higher defense tower, built on the foundation walls of a Wiekhaus, was located at the end in the Turmstraße named after it and collapsed in 1899 due to structural problems.

The structure is 25 meters high, with a diameter of 6.50 meters. The wall thickness at the base is 2.30 meters. In the past, the tower could only be reached via an entrance at a height of six meters using ladders. Its present appearance as a three-story round brick tower with a crenellated crown and conical helmet was given to the tower by the reconstructions in the 19th century. The current entrance was also created in the 19th century. In the course of these construction measures, the Gothic-style breakthrough next to the tower was also created. The tower has been open to visitors since the mid-1990s.

In the building there is a dome-like vault about eight meters high with a round opening about 70 centimeters in diameter, the so-called fear hole. This was the only access to the prisoner dungeon below, through which the prisoners were supplied with food, light and air. The convicts themselves were also lowered into the dungeon through this opening. The current door on the first floor dates from later times.