Welcome to

Altenburg, Frohna
Missouri

Home of
Tower Rock Winery

Tower Rock Winery Home Page

What and where is Tower Rock?

Altenburg Lutheran settlers have rocky beginnings

Bicycling the MRT trail

Altenburg directions

Altenburg pictures

Altenburg public school

Altenberg MO
Altenburg street

Visit Altenburg and Frohna

Altenburg and Frohna are pretty quiet, which we like. Some city visitors with busy traffic commutes, really appreciate the change of pace they find here, where even a turtle is fairly safe in crossing our street. But we aren't far from modern civilization. The public school pictured is well-wired for the internet. We have another school, church-sponsored, just down the street.

We have a full-fledged bank, not a branch. Our houses may not look rich, but our history is rich, indeed.

Remember when the grocery stores in the 1950s had shiny tile exteriors? Ours still does.

We have a new state-of-the-art Museum. You can see and learn about the Lutheran Heritage and the local German-American Heritage that started in 1838.

A company in Frohna processes our slow-growing beech hardwood. Some of it is added as chips during the fermentation process of Anheuser-Busch beer at St. Louis to improve its flavor.

Lutheran Origins

Some 750 Lutherans from Germany's Saxony area south of Berlin in 1839 headed for a new homeland and freedom of worship. They landed at Tower Rock, and in this land that reminded them of their homeland, founded tiny communities all around us. Read of their hardships. Their first Concordia Seminary is a log cabin preserved along our main street, near a church museum.

An 11-acre Saxon Lutheran Memorial north of Frohna has log homes, and welcomes visitors. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is now the second-largest Lutheran Group in North America, and traces its beginnings right here to Altenburg, Whittenberg and Frohna. (573) 824-5404

Tower Rock

Our winery is two miles east of Altenburg. Just past our place, the road starts decending through a gap in the hills, to meet the Mississippi River at Wittenberg. It is very possible the first settlers came through this break in the hills. Just before you arrive at Wittenberg and the Mississippi River you come to a sign pointing the way to one of the river's striking landmarks, Tower Rock. It's great for hiking or getting to the water's edge. Bring the camera.

Around Frohna, Altenburg

The cows with funny-looking antlers, along Route C south near the Christmas tree farm south of Frohna, are reindeer. Maybe you wondered where they spent their off-season.

The Dip'n Deli restaurant, famous for their sauerkraut added to your pizza if you want it... also has fresh baked breads for their deli sandwiches...and a large selection of ice creams. (573) 824-5610

Just down the hill behind the Concordia log college is the East Perry County Fairgrounds. It's a very active place.

Excuses to Visit Altenburg

The Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum complex was constructed in 2005. A state-of-the-art exhibit hall, reception area, and gift shop was integrated into the 1845 church building, commonly known as the "Old School", which served as the original museum. The Museum interprets the 1838-39 Saxon Lutheran immigration and the history of the seven original colonies in East Perry County, Missouri, the origin of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and the regional German-American culture. (573) 824-6070

The Perry County Community Rodeo is at the fairgrounds, usually the first weekend in June. Barrell racing, bull riding. Y'all come. (573) 547-6062

The East Perry Community Fair at Altenberg [news pictures] is "The Biggest (and Best) Little Fair in the Land". 4-H exhibits are big, along with rides, tractor pulls, jumping mule competition and much more. (573) 824-5513

The Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival in Frohna features apple butter cooking in 30-gallon copper kettles over an open fire, with arts, crafts and performances. (573) 824-5404

It's all put on by local folks, who want you to feel you receive good value for dollars you spend. They want to give you a great place to take your family, year after year. Call or e-mail us at the winery or Perryville Chamber of Commerce for more information.

Cape Girardeau and Jackson are south. Perryville and Ste Genevieve, Missouri, are north. Perryville has several motels, a Catholic seminary to tour, and KOA campground. Ste. Genevieve has lots of history about French settlers of the 1700's. Kaskaskia Island and St. Mary's has the Liberty Bell of the West, and was the first capitol of the State of Illinois. Chester has a covered bridge and a great smorgasboard restaurant..

The Mineral Area, Farmington, Park Hills, Ironton and Fredericktown are not far to the west. A picturesque road connects us to the east edge of Fredricktown.

The original Mississippi River Biking trail comes through Altenburg, within 2.7 miles of the winery. Cyclists are welcome to stop in for a breather!

Come visit Tower Rock Winery and Altenburg, Frohna, Wittenberg, and stay a night or more to enjoy the area. The drive along Route C, connecting south to Fruitland and north to Chester shows the scenic rolling hills the original German settlers found to be so similar to their homeland.

Area Tourism & Event Information