Männliturm (Little Man Tower), Lucerne

Following the Musegg Wall uphill from the Nölliturm, the second tower on the ridge along your way is the Männliturm. You can distinguish it by its tall rectangular stone body and the two small round turrets projecting from the battlements at the top.

Stop at the base and look all the way up. On the western rooftop turret stands the figure that gives the tower its name: the Männli, or “Little Man,” an armored warrior holding a flag and a sword. The eastern turret, by contrast, is topped by a finial and small flag.

The Männliturm probably dates from around 1400, although its exact construction date is unknown. Its two projecting rooftop turrets received new roofs in 1537, while the old sloping roof was replaced by a reinforced-concrete platform in 1934.

To visit the interior, don't look for an entrance from the wall-top walkway. The Männliturm has its own separate entrance, reached through a rather inconspicuous doorway near the base. The passage initially leads downward before taking you into the tower, so it can be easily overlooked.

Inside, the tower is divided into four levels. As you climb, look for the openings cut through the thick masonry. Some of the broader loopholes were intended for crossbows, while narrower firing slits were adapted for early firearms. On the lowest level, look toward the city side, where an earlier entrance is now closed by an iron grille.

The rough masonry and defensive openings give perhaps the clearest impression of the building's original military purpose. In 1847, the tower was briefly used as part of an optical telegraph system for Swiss Army communication, and was again reserved for military use during World War II.

Continue upward along the narrow staircases-there are 138 steps to the viewing platform. At around 33-meter height, Männliturm offers one of the best viewpoints along the Musegg Wall. Below you can see Lucerne’s rooftops and the Reuss River, beyond which lies Lake Lucerne. Scan the horizon toward the southwest for the distinctive mass of Mount Pilatus, with the Alps stretching farther behind the city.

The tower is currently open daily from April 1 through November 1, from 8 am to 7 pm, and admission is free. The stairs are steep and narrow, so good footwear and a reasonable head for heights are useful.