Schirmerturm (Umbrella Tower), Lucerne

As you follow the Musegg Wall, eventually you will reach the so-called “Umbrella Tower” located between the Time Tower and the Gunpowder Tower. Standing almost 27.5 meters high, this is the second-smallest tower along the wall. You can recognize it by its pale stonework, the row of rounded arches just below its low, pyramid-shaped roof.

The tower was built in 1420 as one of Lucerne's medieval gate towers, providing access between the city and the surrounding countryside. Around the time of the Old Zürich War in the 1440s, it also served as a gateway toward Zürichstrasse. The passage was walled up in 1658 and reopened in 1878, when the nearby Musegg school was built. At a later period, and for a long time, it was also used as a warehouse by the city's gardening department.

Now, walk into the passage beneath the tower. Here, look for the statue of Saint Mauritius, one of Lucerne's patron saints. This gateway is one of the easiest features to distinguish from the surrounding wall because you can actually pass directly through the base of the tower.

Once outside the passage, look back at the stone façade. The carefully cut quarry stone and large corner blocks are especially noticeable. Higher up are narrow rectangular openings resembling medieval loopholes for bows and crossbows. Interestingly, these openings were largely decorative when they were added, since archers were no longer part of Lucerne's army by that time.

If you move around to the north side of the tower, look just below the roofline. The arched frieze is interrupted by three projecting stone consoles. These used to support a small bay window. Above the arches, the battlements support the present pyramid-shaped roof. This roof is a reconstruction of the one dating from 1513, which was destroyed by fire in 1994.

The tower was originally the so-called "half tower," which means the side of it facing the city was left open. That side was later enclosed to strengthen the structure.

If the tower is open during your visit, you can enter and climb the 96 steps to the upper floor. The ascent is fairly short but steep. This elevated viewpoint is one of the main reasons to visit the Umbrella Tower, offering a clear sense of how the medieval wall once overlooked and protected the city.