The Kaskelkiez exudes a super cozy vibe with its stucco-adorned old buildings and great secondhand shops. And right in the middle of it all, a truly unique structure soars into the sky. Built in 1908, the Shotgun Shell Tower is the last surviving structure of its kind in Berlin and the surrounding area, and it answers the never-asked (but nonetheless highly interesting) question of how shotgun shells were manufactured over 100 years ago.
(If you’re interested in the dangerous world of flying shot pellets and old towers remind you of impregnable prison cells, then you should definitely stop by Prison Island after your trip to the Shot Pellet Tower!)
Pure industrial heritage: The Shot Tower in Berlin-Lichtenberg
When you stand in front of the tower, you’ll immediately notice its unusual architecture. It has the feel of a medieval watchtower. The square shaft made of red bricks and the small structure at the top make it a real eye-catcher.
The way it works sounds like a crazy physics experiment: To form shot pellets, hot, molten lead was poured through a sieve at the top of the tower. During their 38-meter free fall, the droplets coalesced into perfect spheres before cooling with a hiss in a water basin at the bottom. A simple but ingenious principle!
When can you take a look inside?
There’s just one small drawback: The structure is privately owned and normally not open to the public from the inside. Only on special occasions (such as the annual Open Monument Day) does the tower open its doors to curious visitors.
But even so, the trip is worth it. If only for the impressive view from the outside and a relaxing afternoon in the neighborhood cafés.
If you’re traveling by car , with a little patience you’ll usually find a parking spot in the streets around Nöldnerstraße. It’s much more relaxed to take public transportation , since from the Rummelsburg S-Bahn station you’ll be right at the foot of the tower in less than 5 minutes.
📍 Nöldnerstraße 15, 10317 Berlin
📆 From the outside at any time (interior tours only on Open Monument Day)
⏳ About 30 minutes (ideal in combination with a neighborhood stroll)
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
