Roter Turm
The Roter Turm rises as a square tower of red sandstone, whose vivid walls explain its name. Its square stone form remains striking beside the Basilica of Constantine. Built in 1647 as part of the Electoral Palace, the tower housed the palace’s chancellery and important archives. Thick walls protected the palace’s official documents inside.
Around 1830, builders added another floor, giving the tower greater height and a stronger presence. The extra storey changed the tower’s square silhouette. Wartime destruction later separated the Roter Turm from the remaining palace buildings. The tower then stood apart from the surviving palace buildings. Since 1968, the Roter Turm has served as the bell tower of the nearby Basilica of Constantine. Its restored roof carries a distinct baroque form.
The tower’s red sandstone connects its architecture with the practical history held within its walls. Its bells link the isolated tower with the nearby basilica. The Roter Turm preserves traces of administration, destruction, restoration, and religious use within one compact architectural landmark. Its red stone remains the clearest identifying detail.
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