Letziturm Basel, Medieval defense tower in St. Alban Quarter, Switzerland

The Letziturm is the Baroque tower built in 1676 in St. Alban beside the older Gothic Letziturm of the 14th century, which was demolished in 1863 and reconstructed in 1978/79. Its lower section disappeared underground when the St. Alban Rhine path was raised in 1911, so it now looks much smaller than it once was. The ground floor, entered from the wall section, holds three key loopholes in walls about one metre thick, and the upper chamber has small windows under a bell-shaped domed roof topped by a small wooden bell turret.

The present tower is the outer Letziturm, built in 1676 in Baroque style beside the older Gothic Letziturm from the 14th century. The older crenellated tower was demolished in 1863, and the Baroque tower took over its name. When the old Letziturm was reconstructed in 1978/79, the Baroque tower kept the name. In 1911 the St. Alban Rhine path was raised, burying the tower's lower section.

The name Letzi comes from an old Swiss word for a border defence, a barrier meant to hold back an enemy in a valley. The tower keeps this name although the older, crenellated Letziturm it once stood beside was demolished in 1863; the Baroque neighbour took over the name and still bears it after the old tower was reconstructed in 1978/79.

The tower can be reached easily via the Rhine riverside path that runs directly along the water and provides clear orientation. Be aware that the structure extends over the water, and access may be limited during high water periods.

The lower section of the tower vanished underground when the St. Alban Rhine path was raised in 1911, so the structure looks much smaller today than it once did. The terrace jutting into the Rhine was built at the same time and, until 1940, served for the last military defensive works at this spot.