Museggmauer, City wall in Lucerne, Switzerland
The Museggmauer is a medieval stone city wall in Lucerne, Switzerland, running about 870 meters and featuring nine towers. The towers vary in shape and size, some round, others square, and four of them are open for visitors to explore.
The earliest parts of Lucerne's city wall appeared after the city's founding in the 12th century, but the Musegg section was built between around 1370 and 1440. Recent research using tree rings from the wood found in the towers has helped date this construction period more precisely.
The Zytturm, one of the nine towers along the wall, carries a clock face that fishermen on the lake once used to keep track of time. Visitors can climb inside the tower today and see the old clock mechanism up close.
The path along the wall is narrow and passes over stone steps through several towers, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. The wall is open from April to November, and the towers remain closed during winter months.
The Heuturm was struck by lightning in 1701, igniting the gunpowder stored inside and causing an explosion that badly damaged the tower. When it was rebuilt, it was made taller than it had been before.
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