Bingen Mouse Tower – History, Legend & Rhine Views

Rising from a tiny rocky islet in the middle of the Rhine, the Binger Mäuseturm—known in English as the Bingen Mouse Tower—embodies the romance of Germany’s Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Built in the 14th century as a customs and watchtower, it worked in tandem with nearby Ehrenfels Castle to control river traffic at the treacherous Bingen Narrows. Destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War and handsomely rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in the 19th century by Cologne Cathedral architect Ernst Friedrich Zwirner, the tower later served as a river-signal station.

Its enduring fame, however, stems from the chilling legend of Archbishop Hatto II. Folklore claims a vengeful horde of mice chased the tyrant onto the tower and devoured him alive—a moral tale that cemented the English name Mouse Tower of Bingen, even though the German Mäuseturm actually derives from the Middle High German musen (“to keep watch”).

Today the Binger Mäuseturm can be entered only on city-run guided tours, reached by boat under normal water levels and on foot when the Rhine runs exceptionally low. Prime photo spots include the Bingen Cultural Embankment, Klopp Castle and riverside promenades. Pair your stop with a Rhine cruise or a Rheingau wine tasting to blend medieval history, dramatic scenery and regional flavour into one unforgettable visit.