The Water Tower is a 34-meter-tall octagonal stone tower standing in the middle of Chapel Bridge, together forming Lucerne's most iconic image. Built around 1300, before the bridge itself, it served various purposes throughout history as a watchtower, treasury, archive, and even a prison. Today the tower is not open to visitors but remains an unforgettable symbol of the city and one of the most photographed landmarks in Switzerland.
Tower closed to visitors, viewable from outside only.
Early morning or sunset for the best photography light. The tower is beautifully illuminated at night.
faq.subtitle Water Tower
The name is misleading - it was never a water storage tower. The name comes from its location in the water (middle of the river). In German, 'Wasserturm' literally means 'tower in the water'.
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