A warm welcome to the Annaturm (Anna Tower) on top of the Bröhn, which is - 405m above sea level - the highest point of the Deister. We are located directly on a historical route way called the “Kammweg” along which some road marking stones from the 16th and 17th century can still be found
After the geological surveying of the Kingdom of Hanover, which had been initiated by the mathematician Prof. Carl Friedrich Gauß, had been approved in1820, Gauß arranged the building of the Annaturm as a wood-iron-structure that served as the trigonometrical survey station on the Bröhn. Here, Gauß himself conducted field measurements in 1834 (Gaussian geological survey). For the trigonometrical survey a device called the heliotrope, that Gauß himself had developed, was used for the first time. To this day you can find the “Gaußstein” - a stone that bears the markings “G” for Gauß and “M” for Captain Müller who helped Gauß with the surveying - on our terrace.
In the course of history more towers have been built or rebuilt with different materials in the years 1867 and 1879. The third tower was named Anna after building contractor Ernst Braun’s wife.
More towers were constructed in 1888 and 1904 (now made of steel). The fifth tower, which had been built in 1904, served as an air traffic control during World War II. At the end of the war there were attempts to destroy the tower, but the detonation failed.
In 1982 the now 6th tower - built with a concrete tube - was raised as a hiking destination along with the adjoining forest tavern.
With 28m in height and 433m above sea level, the tower offers visitors an incredible view of the Calenberger Land as far as Hanover, Lake Steinhude, the Brocken in the Harz mountain range and the Weserbergland. Admission to the tower is free.
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