Shoemaker tower in Vyborg, Medieval tower at Vyborg Castle, Russia
The Shoemaker Tower is a round tower on the northern side of Vyborg Castle with massive stone walls and roughly 21 meters across. The structure shows typical northern European military building methods of its era with its solid, inward-curving walls.
The tower was built between 1547 and 1550 under Swedish King Gustav I and first served as a weapons storage. Later it was converted into a prison, earning the nickname The Mutton Prison because of the food served there.
The tower has long been linked to the craftspeople of the city who worked and lived nearby. This connection between military architecture and local trades shapes how people understand the place today.
The tower is easy to spot from outside and accessible through the castle grounds, though you should be prepared for steep interior stairs. A restaurant inside offers a place to rest while getting close views of the old stonework and structures.
The name comes from shoemakers who had their workshops and worked right next to the tower. This unusual naming shows how military architecture and city life were tightly woven together.
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