The Malakoff Tower is a solid brick reminder that Cologne's riverfront was once a working harbour edge with military and customs concerns, not only museums and promenades. Built in the mid-19th century, it guarded the entrance to the Rheinau harbour and now stands near the Chocolate Museum.
It is a quick sight rather than a destination, but it adds texture to a walk along the Rhine. The tower's heavy Prussian brickwork contrasts nicely with the redeveloped harbour around it and helps explain why this stretch of waterfront feels layered rather than purely modern.