In the late 19th century, district authorities erected a tower on top of the hill overlooking Müggelsee to provide inquisitive Berliners with a panoramic view over the city and the surrounding countryside. The original wooden tower was destroyed in a 1952 fire, and a replacement, this time made of steel, was immediately rebuilt. The new Müggelturm tower is not as attractive as its predecessor, but the splendid view remains the same. The tower is popular with day-trippers and the café and restaurant on the ground floor still exudes that inimitable East German flair.