Wil Tower, Wooden observation tower in Wil, Switzerland.
The Wil Tower is a 38-meter wooden observation tower on the Hofberg near Wil, designed by Julius Natterer. Its base is an equilateral triangle with 12-meter sides that narrows to 17 meters and widens again at 34 meters, where a roofed observation deck with three panorama panels is reached by 189 steps. The structure uses three X-shaped supports and a double spiral staircase.
The tower opened in July 2006, following a process that began in 2005 with the harvesting of local wood and a year-long drying period. This timeline shows how the project was built on a foundation of careful material preparation before construction could begin.
The tower's name in local usage is Wiler Turm, and its reopening on 15 August 2026 was timed to the annual Turmfest, held together with the tower's 20th anniversary. The 2025/2026 renovation cost 710,000 CHF and added a lamellar weather shield to the stair core and a fine-mesh safety net to the observation deck.
The journey to the observation deck involves climbing 189 steps, which requires moderate physical fitness and steady legs. The roofed deck at the top provides shelter from wind and rain, making visits comfortable even in changing weather conditions.
The tower's core is a double spiral staircase: two independent 2.50-metre-wide flights, one for going up and one for coming down, with landings after every 18 steps. The 18 × 36 cm solid wood treads are threaded and bolted onto a central metal spindle.
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