Allenwindenturm (Allenwinden Tower), Lucerne

The Allenwindenturm is a half-tower and one of the best-known tourist attractions in Lucerne. It was built presumably in 1408 – the exact year is subject to further architectural-archaeological investigation. As for the roof, the time of its construction is more or less accurately determined as autumn/winter of 1540/1541 at the earliest.

At some point in the 16th century, the tower went by the name of the second Holdermeyer Tower, in honor of the then city treasurer, Jost Holdermeyer. Formerly the tallest structure in the city – standing 27.5 meters high, with a 9.1-by-7-meter footprint, and the walls 1.8 meters thick – the Allenwinden Tower has since been surpassed by many newer buildings.

In 1866, it was used by the local fire brigade for hose drying, and from 1868, it served as storage (sometimes unlicensed) for various products, such as petroleum. As of the late 1980s, the tower has been used as a rehearsal facility by two of the Lucerne Carnival clubs, namely: the Lucerne Tambouren Club and the Luzerner Maskenfreunde Club.

Presently, the Allenwindenturm is not open to the public.