Tower of Gourze, Medieval lookout tower in Bourg-en-Lavaux, Switzerland

The tower of Gourze is a medieval stone building that stands on Mont de Gourze and looks out over the Lake Geneva valley. The structure was built from stone and has a clear form that is visible from far away.

The tower was first recorded in 1279 as Castrum Gurzi. It was destroyed by fire in the early 14th century after a conflict involving the bishops of Lausanne, then rebuilt in 1397 on the orders of Bishop Guillaume de Menthonay, who entrusted its management to Jean de Canturio of Milan. His family held it until 1530, when it was sold to the parish of Villette; Bern took control of Vaud in 1536.

The tower's name appears in 1279 as Castrum Gurzi, and the nearby fondue restaurant is named after it. The Canturio family of Milan managed the tower from 1397 until 1530, when it was sold to the parish of Villette. Visitors today climb stairs to the top for views over Lake Geneva, the Chablais, the Jorat and the prealps.

The tower is reached on foot from the surrounding trails on Mont de Gourze. Stairs inside lead to the top; the climb is short but uneven. A fondue restaurant named after the tower stands nearby.

A geodetic pyramid was placed on the tower's western corner in 1902 and used in the official Swiss national survey MN03. Its apex stands at 936.25 metres above sea level. The pyramid passed to the canton of Vaud in 2005 and was retired in 2006 with the rise of GPS.