The Bismarck Tower is located south of the Ballenstedt district of Opperode on the Stahlsberg (270 m above sea level).
The mayor of Ballenstedt suggested the construction of this Bismarck Tower on October 18, 1913, at the centenary celebrations of the Battle of Leipzig. On November 2, 1913, the location was determined and the „Working Committee for the Erection of a Bismarck Monument on the Stahlsberge near Ballenstedt“ was founded under the chairmanship of District Director Dr. Knorr. Professor Wilhelm Kreis from Düsseldorf was also chosen as the architect of the Bismarck Tower, as Kreis had already designed several award-winning towers, such as the „Twilight of the Gods“ design. He designed the tower as an observation tower with a fire bowl.
The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone took place on June 14, 1914, shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. Due to the war, the construction work could not be fully completed and as no further work was carried out until 1929, the tower was in danger of falling into disrepair.
On July 12, 1929, the chairman of the Ballenstedt branch of the Harzklub, Höhne, who had also been a member of the working committee 15 years previously, took up a suggestion made by district director Pietscher. He had suggested that the Harzklub branch association should complete the observation tower and make it accessible to the general public. The original design was modified and simplified by the construction manager, government and building councillor Dr. Ehrlich, so that the tower could be inaugurated on May 20, 1931.
After the Second World War and during the GDR era, the tower was left to decay and had to be closed due to damage in the 1960s.
After the political change, the tower was renovated with state funds in 1994/ 1995 and the viewing platform can be accessed via an internal staircase. To visit the tower, you can collect the key from the Ballenstedt tourist information office.
The tower can be reached from Opperode via the circular route around the Stahlsberg.
