Name and Location

The Altes Quermarkenfeuer Rotes Kliff, also known as the "Old Lateral Mark Beacon Red Cliff", is a disused maritime navigational light located on the red sandstone cliff near Kampen village on the island of Sylt in northern Germany. Its address is Riperstieg 333B, 25999 Kampen (Sylt), Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Construction and History

The original construction date of this lighthouse is unknown. It served as a lateral mark for local coastal traffic until decommissioning in the 20th century. The exact year of decommissioning is not documented in readily available sources. Today, it stands as a protected cultural monument and local landmark rather than an active aid to navigation.

Architecture and Materials

The structure type is a small masonry tower (originally with lantern room). The materials used are likely brick or local sandstone rubble with lime mortar. The architect or builder is unknown, and no surviving plans or attribution exist. The style is utilitarian 19th-century lighthouse architecture, with minimal ornamentation.

Light and Navigation

Technical specifications of the light characteristic, focal height, tower height, and range are not recorded. As a disused beacon, it is no longer an active aid to navigation.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site is reachable on foot via the coastal footpath (Riperstieg) and adjacent public trails. Public accessibility is exterior only – there is no access inside the structure. Parking is available at the Wadden Sea visitor car park, and then a 10-minute walk along well-marked paths.

Notable Views and Landscape

The site offers a panoramic view of the North Sea horizon to the west, the cliff face to the north, and dune-covered heathland inland. Nearby attractions include the Rotes Kliff cliff face and beach below, the village of Kampen (art galleries, cafés), the Leuchtturm Kampen lighthouse, and the Wadden Sea National Park information center.

Anecdotes and Folklore

A local legend holds that on stormy nights the old beacon's glass fragments still catch stray moonlight, lending a faint red glow to the cliff's edge. (This is an unverified legend.)

Technical and Operational Details

As a disused beacon, there are no technical or operational details available.

Further Information

For more information, refer to the German Wikipedia entry "Quermarkenfeuer Rotes Kliff", Wikidata record Q1821460, OpenStreetMap (way/33970568 with heritage tags), and other sources listed in the Further Reading & References section.