Located in the Taunus Mountains of Hesse, Germany, Idstein is a well-preserved medieval town. The city was home to the Counts of Nassau royalty line, including Count Adolf of Germany who served as the Holy Roman Emperor for a period in the late thirteenth century.

In the city center, the plaza of the Old Town is surrounded by colorful half-timbered buildings, most dating back to the 1600’s.

The Old Town

Witches’ Tower

Naturally, with royals living in town a castle was built along with all the infrastructure to protect it. The most visible of these elements is the 12th century Hexenturm (Witches’ Tower). Along with the impressive collection of half-timbered buildings, it is the main feature of the town. Construction on it began in 1170 and continued in phases until it was fully completed in 1501.

Upon approaching the tower, we were a little surprised to find the door unlocked. However, having previous experience climbing ancient towers in Europe, our two boys did not hesitate to immediately begin our ascension to the top. In the first section, a staircase spirals up along the inside of the thick tower walls. The upper portion, however, is designed with a series of ladders and stairs that eventually links to the top floor. Reaching the very top and conquering another tower was certainly the highlight of this visit!

Contrary to its name, the Witches’ Tower never officially housed anyone suspected of witchcraft. It was used mostly as a watchtower and for defensive purposes; however, Idstein was the location of several witch trials between the years 1630 and 1677. During this period, thirty-one women and eight men were found guilty and executed for witchcraft. There is a small plaque at the bottom of the tower that commemorates these events.

Interactive map of Idstein