It was known as the "Square Tower" until it was renamed the "Götzenturm" in the 19th Century, as Goethe's hero in his play, "Götz von Berlichingen" dies in front of a tower. The famous knight was imprisoned for three and a half years
(1519-1522) and spent a night in the Bollwerksturm tower in Heilbronn, which was linked to the Götzenturm by the city wall. In 1985 a silhouetted figure was installed, balanced at the top of the Götzenturm. The sculpture, "Über dem Abgrund" ('Above the Precipice') was made by Berlin artist, Hubertus von der Goltz.