The Herzberg (591.4 m above sea level) is Bad Homburg's highest local mountain. An 18-metre-tall wooden tower was erected atop the Herzberg in 1878 to attract spa guests. This tower was meant to be replaced by a solid stone structure in accordance with the plans of the Homburg Taunus Club, which was founded a short time later specifically for this purpose. It was however not until 25 years later that the required funds were raised and in April 1910 Kaiser Wilhelm II approved the design for a tower created by the Homburg master builders, Louis Jacobi and Heinrich Föller, which was based on the model of an ancient Roman watchtower. About a year later, on 30 July 1911, the tower was ceremonially inaugurated. The observation tower has been preserved in its original state, having undergone comprehensive renovation in 2008. A sensational panoramic view compensates for the physical effort of the ascent to the top of the mountain.
