Ale Tower, Medieval tower in Lausanne, Switzerland
Ale Tower is a round stone tower in Lausanne, Switzerland. It stands about 70 feet (21 meters) tall with a diameter of about 26 feet (8 meters), built from rough grey and beige masonry blocks, and is topped by a steep conical roof of reddish-brown tiles.
Built around 1340, the tower was part of Lausanne's medieval fortifications and served as a fortified refuge. In 1890, a demolition project caused public outcry, and the tower was saved and listed as a historical monument in 1900.
The tower's name comes from the old Ale district that it once protected, and locals often use it as a meeting point. Its base is a favorite spot for skateboarders and street artists, who leave marks on the stone.
The tower is closed to the public, so you can only admire it from the street. It stands at the corner of two streets in the city center, a short walk from public transport stops, and is easy to find on foot.
The tower's walls are thickest at the base and get thinner as they go up, and the number of arrow slits increases with each floor. At the top, six large openings once led to a wooden gallery that has since disappeared.
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