The highest viewing tower in the Harz Mountains, described as “the world’s largest witches’ broom”, has been erected in picturesque Rothesütte, not far from the Lower Saxony border. A Liebherr 340 EC-B 16 tower crane, with an impressive hook height of 57.5 metres and a 40-metre radius, was used for the challenging lifting work on site.
The construction site in Rothesütte, Germany, presented the Liebherr crane from company Hüffermann with significant challenges. Access to the site was difficult, which meant that work had to be planned and carried out with a great deal of precision. The Liebherr crane lifted 12.5 tonne steel sections into position on the tower’s concrete base for the planned lift installation. Around 2560 steel parts were needed in total and over 22,300 bolts were used to create the 452 tonne steel structure.
The Liebherr crane was instrumental in the project’s progress. Its high lifting capacity and flexibility made it possible to master the complex on-site requirements. The 340 EC-B 16 was dismantled at the end of 2024 after the last steel components had been successfully installed.
The ‘Hexenbesen’ (Witches’ Broom) forms part of the ‘Harzer Hexenreich’ (Harz Land of Witches) attraction
The viewing tower will be a major attraction in the Harz Mountains, opening up a world of discovery with an interactive exhibition that takes visitors into the fascinating realm of witches and myths. The tower will become part of the ‘Harzer Hexenstieg’ hiking trail, making it a major addition to tourism in the region.
With funding totalling 10.1 million euros provided by the state of Thuringia, the Harzer Hexenreich project is scheduled for completion in the course of 2025. The viewing tower is 70 metres high and offers visitors spectacular panoramic views of the Harz forests, meadows and mountains as far as the Wurmberg and Brocken.
