Observation tower

An observation tower is a tall structure built to see faraway places and get a view all around in a circle. These towers are usually at least 20 metres (66 feet) high and are made from stone, iron, and wood. People have been building observation towers for a very long time, even back in the ancient Babylonian Empire.

Today, many of these towers are also used for other purposes, like TV towers, restaurants, or even churches. When an observation tower is used for guarding an area over a long time, it is often called a watchtower. There are other names for similar structures, such as crow's nests, observatories, and viewing platforms.

Construction and usage

Observation towers stand tall in the countryside so they can see over trees and other obstacles. They are often made from strong materials like stone, iron, and wood. Today, many of these towers have special platforms or restaurants where people can enjoy the view. Some towers are also used for radio and TV signals, which can be just as important as letting people look far away. Visitors often reach these high spots using elevators. Water towers can also serve as observation points, usually between 20 and 50 metres tall, while TV towers are much higher, ranging from 80 to 200 metres. Some church towers have viewing areas too, though they might not have elevators. Many buildings include towers that let people see far around them.

observation decks UHF VHF FM sound broadcasting TV towers water towers

Types

Dedicated observation towers

Before World War I, groups of people who loved walking and some towns built many observation towers on high points. These towers were usually made of stone, but sometimes wood or iron was used too. You reach the viewing platform, which is between 5 and 40 metres high, by climbing stairs. Most of these towers are for visitors to enjoy, but some can also help watch for forest fires or be used during wars. Some now have small radios or even restaurants inside them. Older towers often have a flag on top.

Some towers can be visited anytime, while others only open certain days and may charge an entrance fee. The viewing platform is often open, and some have restaurants below. One tower in Reutlingen even has a hotel inside it! Though most were built before World War I, people still build new ones today, especially for big garden shows. Modern towers are usually made of concrete, steel, or wood. Some amusement parks have observation towers too, but often they prefer other types of rides.

Watch towers

Main article: Watchtower

Further information: Fire lookout tower

Watch towers are special observation towers where people keep an eye on large areas. Control towers also fall into this group, but they usually use machines instead of eyes to watch. Watch towers often have a small roof to keep the watcher dry, and because they are not very tall, they don’t usually have elevators. Active watch towers are often not open to the public because they help watch important places. But during calm times, they can be used for looking at forests or as regular observation towers.

Radio towers

Main article: Radio masts and towers

Some radio towers are built so people can visit them, besides their job of sending radio signals. This works best for certain kinds of radio towers, but not all. One famous tower in Berlin had problems when people wanted to visit because it could be unsafe. After World War II, new towers were built just for sending signals or for TV, and many now have places to see from very high up — sometimes as high as 200 metres! These towers often have elevators and may even have restaurants that spin around. The viewing platforms can be open or closed; open ones are best for taking pictures, while closed ones keep visitors more comfortable. Visiting these tall towers usually costs money and they open only certain hours.

Highrise buildings

Main article: High-rise

See also: Gyro tower

Many very tall buildings have special floors where visitors can look out, sometimes with restaurants too. These viewing platforms can be made of glass or open air, and they are usually on the highest floor. Visiting them often costs money, and you can reach them fast with an elevator during special open hours.

Water towers

Main article: Water tower

Many water towers also let people look out from high up, usually between 10 and 50 metres tall. You can get to the platform by stairs or elevator, and some even have restaurants. Visiting these platforms usually costs money and they have different opening times.

Church towers

Main article: Steeple (architecture)

Some church towers have places to look out from, usually open air and between 20 and 50 metres high. Getting to these platforms often costs money and is only possible when the church is open. Elevators are rare; most people climb stairs.

Lighthouses

Main article: Lighthouse

Some lighthouses let visitors look out from high platforms, usually reached by stairs. There may be a cost to enter, and the hours can be limited. These platforms are almost always open air and between 10 and 50 metres high.

Sports facilities

Some sports places have tall buildings with observation decks, like ski jumps or the Montreal Olympic stadium. Getting to these platforms usually costs money and they are open only certain hours. You may take an elevator or climb stairs to reach them, and they can be made of glass or open air, usually between 10 and 50 metres high.

Fire lookout towers

Main article: List of fire lookout towers

Fire lookout towers have been used in places like Australia, Canada, and the United States to help spot new forest fires from high up.

Bird observation towers

Places where many birds gather often have special towers to help people watch the birds better.

Hyperboloid structures

See also: List of hyperboloid structures

Hyperboloid structures are special shapes made like a lattice, and many have platforms on top to look out from.

Other towers

There are many unusual observation towers that don’t fit into other groups. Examples include a grain silo in Frankfurt with a restaurant and viewing platform, a bell tower in Berlin’s Olympic stadium you reach by elevator, and a wind turbine in Holtriem with a closed platform. Some bridges even have places to look out from, like one in Bratislava. One old moving bridge in France is now permanently upright and used as an observation tower.

History

Germany

In Germany, observation towers began appearing in the countryside in the late 1700s. These early towers were often built by wealthy people. By the mid-1800s, ordinary citizens started building them too. In places like Austria and Switzerland, many towers were set up by groups that love the mountains and tourism, and they still take care of them today. The invention of the elevator in the late 1800s allowed for even taller towers. Famous examples from this time include the Eiffel Tower and the Blackpool Tower. After World War II, many new tall towers were built because they could be used for both television and radio signals. Some of these towers also included restaurants and observation decks to help pay for their construction.