March 22, 2026, 5:59 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In the marketplace of the Rhineland-Palatinate town of Bernkastel-Kues stands perhaps Germany’s quirkiest building, over 600 years old. In a narrow alley, the so-called Spitzhäuschen rises upward. Pictured, it resembles another iconic structure: the Leaning Tower of Pisa—because it is indeed in a precarious tilt. It’s a tourist magnet, not least because the most famous wizard’s apprentice in film history once stopped by here.
According to the tourist website “Mosel,” the Spitzhäuschen was built as early as 1416. It is considered the oldest half-timbered house in the entire Middle Mosel region. The reason for its unique architecture might have been frugality. At the time, property tax was only paid on the actual built-up area. So, the builders possibly decided to construct the building vertically rather than horizontally. Another plausible explanation is that Karlstraße, actually a rather narrow alley, was too tight for a normal house construction. Had the Spitzhäuschen been built like the surrounding structures, carts would no longer have been able to pass through the alley.
A Piece of Hollywood History
Whatever the truth may be, the Spitzhäuschen is certainly an eye-catcher in the old town of Bernkastel-Kues, also due to its adventurous tilt. This is due to the soft ground on which the building stands. Over the years and centuries, this ground has subsided, causing the house to lean at an increasingly steep angle. It has only shone in its current glory since 1913. At that time, it was renovated, revealing the beautiful half-timbering that now adorns the facade. Previously, it was plastered due to fire risk. The building and its appearance historically represent the transition of (architectural) eras from the Renaissance to the Baroque.
The construction method also suggests that the Spitzhäuschen was once a vintner’s residence. Even today, this theme plays a major role on site, as the Schmitz-Herges family has been operating a wine tavern on the ground floor since 1970. Guests can choose from more than 50 different varieties. The Mosel region is one of the most famous and renowned wine-growing areas in Germany. However, younger tourists might also visit the place for another reason. A piece of Hollywood history was written here.
Bernkastel-Kues and Harry Potter
According to the official tourism website of the town of Bernkastel-Kues, the Spitzhäuschen was a location in the first part of the fantasy film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” In the scene set in the Mosel town, Harry delves into Lord Voldemort’s thoughts and travels to the residence of wandmaker Mykew Gregorovitch in Diagon Alley. And this is indeed immortalized in the minds of many film fans by the crooked house on Karlstraße. Incidentally, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, another German town extremely popular with tourists, was also a filming location for the movies about the world-famous wizard’s apprentice.
Curiously, according to various sources such as the “Tagesspiegel,” Bernkastel-Kues does not appear in the official film credits of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” There is also no official confirmation from the film studio Warner Bros. Furthermore, the corresponding building, presumably the Spitzhäuschen, is seen in the film for just one second, and even then, it’s blurry. Film nerds are sure to have recognized that the wizard’s house is the distinctive building. A staff member of the local tourist information shed light on the matter upon TRAVELBOOK’s inquiry: “It is definitely our Spitzhäuschen, but in the film, they simply used a photo of it. That’s not uncommon. No team came for filming.”
Nevertheless, the Hollywood accolade has certainly generated some attention. “We sometimes mention it as additional information on our city tours. However, it’s unlikely that tourists come here just for that reason.” Moreover, the entire old town of Bernkastel-Kues is worth seeing, as is the Landshut castle ruin, from which you have a great view over the old town, the vineyards, and the Mosel. The town is also a stage on the long-distance hiking trail “Moselsteig,” which runs over 365 kilometers from Perl to Koblenz. Additionally, there are several circular hiking trails branching off in the region, charmingly named “side trips.” The newly designed local spa park is also worth a visit.