German Lighthouses

Learn about German lighthouses

Also Appears In: Culture File: Germany Throwback Thursday

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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture File: Germany series at GermanPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring essential information about Germany, German culture and German people. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 22 - German Lighthouses.

Besides the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and the Wadden Sea, there's one thing that cannot be left out when talking about the German beach and sea. That would be lighthouses, or in German Leuchtturm.

Almost every place on the coast of Germany has its own lighthouse, and most of these are worth a visit. Lighthouses are a beautiful sight, and from up top you get a wonderful view of the sea and the surrounding area. The typical lighthouse is red with white stripes, but you can find them in almost any color in Germany.

Previously, torches or Fackeln, and fires, or Feuer, were used to light the way for sailors, or Segler, and fishermen at night.. The first actual lighthouse is known as the Tower of Hercules, which was built in the second century in Spain. Although it doesn't have the typical shape or color of current lighthouses, it is perhaps the oldest lighthouse in the world, and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009. The oldest lighthouse in Germany is in the area called Travemünde on the Baltic sea. It dates back to the thirteenth century and was in service until 1972.

If you're an especially big lighthouse fan, you can actually stay overnight in one. The lighthouse called roter Sand, which means “Red Sand," on the North Sea is open to visitors in the summer months, and you can stay overnight there if you want.