Frankenturm

Frankenturm is a medieval residential tower in Germany, built around 1100 as a fortified home for high-ranking servants of the church. Its severe outline, narrow windows and heavy masonry reflect a time when households needed their own protection. The original entrance stood high above the ground and could only be reached by a wooden staircase.

Massive Roman stone blocks form the base, while reused Roman bricks appear in layers throughout the walls. On the eastern side, a curved tombstone from the second century serves as a lintel, with its Latin inscription still visible upside down. Franco von Senheim, who lived here in the fourteenth century, gave the tower its name.

The building once rose five stories before losing its upper sections during the Middle Ages. Distinct crenellations returned during restoration in the 1930s, while later work kept modern additions visibly separate from the older masonry. Guided tours and events now take place within walls that unite domestic life, defence and reused fragments of Roman buildings.