Schwammerlturm, Leoben, Medieval gate tower in Leoben, Austria
The Schwammerlturm is a gate tower in Leoben that rises about 30 meters and is topped with an eight-sided dome roof featuring four integrated clocks. A passage runs beneath the structure, allowing people to walk through the narrow street below it.
The tower was built in the 13th century as part of the city fortifications. It underwent significant renovations in the 16th and 17th centuries that shaped its appearance today.
The inner-city facing side displays the coat of arms of Leoben and the federal emblem, while the outer wall carries poetic inscriptions that tell the story of the tower's past. These symbols and texts shape how the building appears in the daily streetscape.
The upper floor houses a café accessible by elevator, with seating areas spread across two levels and an observation terrace offering city views. The elevator makes reaching the higher areas easy for all visitors.
The tower's name comes from its dome roof shape, which resembles a mushroom cap, leading locals to call it the Mushroom Tower. This naming reflects how the architecture's visual likeness to a natural form entered the local language.
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