The Water Tower

Before we cross the region’s most famous bridge, let me tell you about the iconic Water Tower next to it. Known in German as the “Wasserturm,” it’s often translated as “water tower”. Despite the name, it likely never served that purpose. Some say it was built shortly after the bridge, but most believe that the tower is older — dating back to around 1262. There’s no exact record of when it was built, but it begins appearing in written sources in the 14th century. One theory is that it was part of the city’s early fortifications and served as a defensive tower. But Lucerne art historian Heinz Horat suggests that the tower was built as a symbol of power by the abbot of the Alsatian Murbach Monastery, who ruled over Lucerne at the time, to assert his authority over the rebellious townspeople. With its massive octagonal shape and pyramidal roof, the tower is unlike anything else in the region. Whatever its origins, the Water Tower rises nearly 35 metres tall, and it wasn’t just its intimidating silhouette that struck fear. The tower’s interior is divided into four floors, with a basement that once served as a dungeon. Prisoners were kept in complete darkness, above the waterline. Those condemned were lowered five metres down by pulley, with no chance of escape. The upper floor was used for interrogations and torture. Only two small skylights allowed the faintest trace of daylight to enter. In 1759, the tower became the city’s treasury. Its thick walls stored tax money, customs revenue, fines, and confiscated goods. At the top of the tower is a wooden structure called the claire-voie, which reveals the tower’s full timber structure. If you’d like to venture inside, you’ll need to book a guided tour through the Lucerne Artillery Association, who manage the site and maintain a collection of historic weapons in the tower.