Powder tower

A powder tower (German: Pulverturm), occasionally also powder house (Pulverhaus), was a building used by the military or by mining companies, frequently a tower, to store gunpowder or, later, explosives.

They were common until the 20th century, but were increasingly succeeded by gunpowder magazines and ammunition depots.

The explosion of a powder tower could be catastrophic as, for example, in the Delft Explosion of 1654.

Buildings formerly used as powder towers include the following: These are sorted by states of Germany, since there are so many.

The Pulverturm, Demmin, bears the name, but was probably not used for this purpose.

The powder tower of Prague
The powder tower in Meschede