Name and Location

The Molenturm, also known as the Mäuseturm, is a small harbour light tower located in the Walle quarter of Bremen, Germany. Its coordinates are 53°06′22″ N, 8°44′51″ E, and it can be found at the end of the southern mole enclosing the Überseehafen.

Construction and History

The Molenturm was constructed during an unknown time period (likely early to mid-20th century) to guide ships safely into Bremen's growing overseas port. Today, it remains an active aid to navigation while also protected as a cultural monument by the State of Bremen. Its original function was to mark the starboard side of the approach channel.

Architecture and Materials

The Molenturm is a slender cylindrical tower rising from a square base. Its construction is made of masonry or reinforced concrete, with a typical height and focal plane not publicly recorded. The tower has a utilitarian finish, likely painted in high-visibility colours, and an "tower" silhouette for daymark recognition.

Light and Navigation

The Molenturm functions as a starboard lateral beacon, marking the right-hand side of a channel when entering from seaward. It is an automated electric lamp with an unknown characteristic, but it is presumed to be white, fixed or occulting. Its range is modest, typically 3-5 nautical miles for inner-harbour lights.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Molenturm stands on port property and is fenced, making direct access not permitted. However, the tower can be viewed from the Weser promenade and from ferry-boat crossings between Überseestadt and Woltmershausen.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the surrounding area, visitors can enjoy the views of the Weser River and the modern urban quarter of Überseestadt, with its harbour-side restaurants and promenades. Nearby points of interest include the Übersee-Museum Bremen (maritime exhibits) and the Hafenmuseum Speicher XI (port and shipping history).

Anecdotes and Folklore

Locally, the Molenturm is affectionately known as the "Mäuseturm" ("Mouse Tower"), a colloquial reference to its diminutive proportions compared to larger coastal lighthouses. Some sources suggest the beacon replaced an older wooden pile light in the 1920s, although documentary proof remains elusive.

Technical and Operational Details

The Molenturm is currently operated automatically, with no on-site keeper employed. It is shown on German BSH nautical charts of the Weser estuary as "Molenfeuer Überseehafen Süd".

For further information, please refer to the following sources: OpenStreetMap relation (3615529), Wikidata (Q1679282), German Wikipedia (de:Molenfeuer Überseehafen Süd), and Bremen Denkmalschutz entry (ref. 1168).