The saying: "Whoever has the tower has the power" is associated with the Bayenturm tower in Cologne, which was of great importance in the Middle Ages. Not only was the defence of the city on the southern side of the Rhine controlled from the tower, the tower was also of great importance for the rule within the city due to its geostrategic location. The saying goes back to the medieval conflict between the citizens of Cologne and their supreme feudal lord, the Archbishop of Cologne. The conquest of the Bayenturm by the burghers was one of several milestones in the struggle for control of the city. Like the large gate castles of the medieval city wall, the Bayenturm was designed as a castle in its own right. Gaining control over it was therefore an essential prerequisite for ruling the city itself.
The primary function of the Bayenturm was, of course, to defend the city from external enemies. In two respects, the tower provided defence on land and water, making it the supporting element of Cologne's city wall. It was particularly important to secure the Rhine and maintain shipping, as Cologne's economic success was linked to trade on the Rhine.
The medieval tower served to defend the city for centuries, until times changed and medieval defences became obsolete. Cologne, now Prussian and no longer a free city, became a fortress city in the 19th century and the medieval wall was demolished in the course of the first city expansion. The Bayenturm tower escaped major demolition solely because it did not stand in the way of alternative projects. The city architect at the time, Josef Stübben, restored the tower, which was in need of renovation, and integrated it into the ensemble of the newly emerging Ring Boulevard. The Cologne Museum of Prehistory and Early History moved in, transforming the tower from a martial to a cultural institution.
The Bayenturm finally experienced a break in its history during the Second World War, whose bombs it was unable to withstand. Heavily damaged, it remained in a ruinous state until the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, it was finally completed according to the plans of city architect Josef Stübben, so that the FrauenMediaTurm Foundation was able to move into the building in 1994. As a result, it is now the women, in the form of the foundation and the associated feminist archive and documentation centre on the history of the women's movement, who own the tower.
The primary function of the Bayenturm was, of course, to defend the city from external enemies. In two respects, the tower provided defence on land and water, making it the supporting element of Cologne's city wall. It was particularly important to secure the Rhine and maintain shipping, as Cologne's economic success was linked to trade on the Rhine.
The medieval tower served to defend the city for centuries, until times changed and medieval defences became obsolete. Cologne, now Prussian and no longer a free city, became a fortress city in the 19th century and the medieval wall was demolished in the course of the first city expansion. The Bayenturm tower escaped major demolition solely because it did not stand in the way of alternative projects. The city architect at the time, Josef Stübben, restored the tower, which was in need of renovation, and integrated it into the ensemble of the newly emerging Ring Boulevard. The Cologne Museum of Prehistory and Early History moved in, transforming the tower from a martial to a cultural institution.
The Bayenturm finally experienced a break in its history during the Second World War, whose bombs it was unable to withstand. Heavily damaged, it remained in a ruinous state until the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, it was finally completed according to the plans of city architect Josef Stübben, so that the FrauenMediaTurm Foundation was able to move into the building in 1994. As a result, it is now the women, in the form of the foundation and the associated feminist archive and documentation centre on the history of the women's movement, who own the tower.
Good to know
Price info
Price adult: €5.00
Eligibility
for individual guests
Directions & Parking facilities
You can easily reach the Ubierring stop on tram lines 15 and 16. From here, it is around 350 metres to the Bayenturm.
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