Station: [25] Watchtower

You are now at the watchtower, which is called the flag tower today. It leads you back down to the courtyard.

Even in medieval castles, the staircase in the main tower was more than just a way to the top. Its stone steps wind clockwise. There was a very practical reason for this: it served as a defense mechanism.

In the event of an attack, towers served as a refuge for the castle lords. Anyone who wanted to storm the tower had to climb the narrow spiral staircase. As they did so, the attacker always had the tower’s spire on their right. That was precisely the advantage for the defenders. The attacker could not fully swing his sword arm. The defender, on the other hand, had greater freedom of movement. He could fight from above and fend off the attacker.

Today, the central spindle in the middle of the spiral staircase is missing here in the tower. However, the direction of the steps has been preserved. Even without the spindle, it is still easy to see how cleverly this staircase was once designed.

The watchtower still fulfills an important function today. The lord of the castle’s flag is hoisted on its flagpole—whenever the lord is at the castle.

So as you continue down into the courtyard, you’re not just walking down a flight of stairs. You’re moving through a piece of well-thought-out castle architecture that combines protection, power, and a sign of the lord’s presence that remains visible to this day.