Hessenstein Tower
Aussichtsturm Hessenstein
A 19th-century brick observation tower beside Panker Estate, with views from the top over the Holstein hills and the Baltic coastline.
Hessenstein Tower was built in 1839 to 1841 by Count Frederick of Hesse-Kassel. It stands on the Pilsberg hill at about 128 metres above sea level, surrounded by beech woods. The tower is about 17 metres tall, and from the top you can see the lake district hills, the Hohenstein coast and Kiel Fjord, and on clear days the Danish islands. Two kilometres below lies Panker Estate, a well-preserved noble estate with the Trakehner stables, a picture gallery and a long-established restaurant, and the two can be visited together. A car is needed. The tower is about 25 km from Plön and about 5 km from Lütjenburg.
Opening hours
Open weekends and holidays Apr–Oct (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Lütjenburg Motte-and-Bailey Castle
- Five Lakes Tour, Malente
- Ukleisee & Hunting Lodge
- Parnaß Tower, Plön
- Eutin Old Town & Market Square
- Eutin Castle
- Eutin Palace Garden
- Plön Old Town