Falterturm, Kitzingen

The Falter Tower is a landmark of the Lower Franconian town of Kitzingen.

The round tower was built between 1469 and 1496 as a fortification and watch tower of the outer city wall and is the best preserved part of this former fortification. The name "Falter" is derived from "Falltor". Originally, the tower had a lower counterpart further west and between the two towers was one of the five city gates of Kitzingen, which could be closed with a drop gate. A bridge, which led over the now filled-in town moat, formed the entrance. At the end of the 19th century, when a large part of the town fortification was demolished, the second tower as well as the gate building were demolished in order to enlarge the town entrance, as a result of which the Falter Tower stands isolated today. On historical city views of Kitzingen, this lost fortification is still clearly visible.

The tower is 52 meters high and has seven stories. The leaning helmet of the tower, which is protected as an architectural monument, is particularly striking and is therefore also known as the "leaning tower of Kitzingen". The reason for the inclination of the tower's helmet is a sagging of the roof beams, although local legends blame this on the alleged mixing of the mortar with wine.

From 1963 to 2011, the tower housed the display collection of the German Carnival Museum. In January 2011, the museum was closed because the Falterturm was classified in an expert opinion as being at high risk of fire. By the end of the year, the tower was to be upgraded in terms of fire protection for about 250,000 euros. Various plans for the conversion were subsequently rejected, as they would have changed the structure and character of the tower too much. Since the fall of 2013, the Fastnachtmuseum has finally been housed in two renovated and restored historic buildings on Rosenstraße and Luitpoldstraße - the facade painting both inside and out is by Kitzingen artist Klaus Christof.