Anyone strolling through Wittenburg's city center and moving from the town hall in the direction of the ramparts will also pass the Hunger Tower through the narrow alleys of the old town. This was part of the old city wall and served as a prison tower in the Middle Ages.
In 1282 Wittenburg was the capital of an independent county that stretched from the Elbe near Boizenburg to behind Crivitz. The Wittenburg count period lasted about 70 years, during which fortification played an important role. During this time Wittenburg received an imposing town wall with fortification towers and town gates, which served as a defense. Even today, remains of the old fortifications testify to the strength of these structures. While the Wittenburg Mill Gate was demolished in 1850 and the Stone Gate in 1869, the Hunger Tower was preserved. Convicted criminals were locked in this tower from about the late Middle Ages and provided only with water and bread. Many prisoners died after several months from debilitation and immune deficiency caused by lack of nutrients and light.
