Loorenkopf tower, Wooden observation tower on Adlisberg, Switzerland

Loorenkopf is a wooden observation tower on Adlisberg featuring a lattice wooden structure that rises above the dense forest east of Zürich. The interior staircase leads to viewing platforms at different heights where visitors can look out over the surrounding landscape.

The Verschönerungs-Verein Zürich built the tower in 1954, not the city: engineer Ernst Bosshard designed it, Dangel & Co. won the competition, and the VVZ funded it with a 40,000-franc loan from its Legatenfonds. Construction began in June 1954 and the platform was inaugurated on 18 August 1954. An earlier 1878 wooden scaffold at the site had been demolished in 1881 as unsafe.

The tower is named after the Loorenkopf, the forested rise on Adlisberg where it stands. It was built by the Verschönerungsverein Zürich, a civic beautification association, which financed it with a 40,000-franc credit approved at its 1953 general meeting. Next to the tower are a forest hut, fire pits and several benches, used for outings and barbecues.

The tower stands in the forest at 694 m; hiking trails lead from the Katzenschwanzstrasse car park to it in about 15 minutes. The platform is reached by 152 steps and 2 intermediate landings. Next to the tower are a forest hut, fire pits and several seats.

On clear days visitors can spot the distant peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau from the observation platform. These mountains form a striking backdrop to the closer forested landscape below.