Zytturm / Zeitturm (Time Tower), Lucerne

Rising 31 meters above the hillside, the Zytturm, or Time Tower, is the easiest of the Musegg Wall towers to recognize. Just look for the tower with an enormous clock face on its south façade.

Beneath it, you'll notice the two painted "Wild Men," giant figures that appear to support the clock. The dial was deliberately made large enough to read the time by people far below, including even fishermen out on Lake Lucerne. The clock face and tower paintings have been renewed several times; the present appearance largely reflects restoration work completed in 1939.

The tower itself dates from the early 15th century. Modern archaeological research generally places its construction around 1442, although an older dating of 1403 also appears in historical records.

Inside, wooden staircases lead upward through several floors, and the climb is quite steep and narrow in places. Near the lower level, look for one of the most impressive exhibits: the enormous former Lucerne Town Hall clock from 1526. Its hand-forged mechanism weighs almost 900 kilograms, and its dial is nearly five meters across.

As you continue upward, you will pass a permanent collection of historic tower clocks from Lucerne and the surrounding area. The exhibition extends over five floors and includes mechanisms dating from the 16th to the early 20th centuries.

Higher in the tower, look for the mechanism that actually operates the Zytturm clock. Dating from 1535, it replaced an earlier mechanism from 1385 and is considered the oldest working tower-clock mechanism in central Switzerland. Remarkably, the clock is still wound by hand rather than automatically. Reaching the clock room involves roughly 100 steps.

If possible, time your visit for just before the hour. Listen carefully: the Zytturm has the traditional privilege of striking the hour one minute before all the other public clocks in Lucerne.

Continue upward toward the viewing level. From here, look south over the tiled roofs and church towers of Lucerne's Old Town. Beyond them is Lake Lucerne, with the mountains rising behind it. The narrow staircases make the climb less suitable for anyone uncomfortable with heights, but the combination of working clock machinery, historic clocks, and elevated city views makes the Zytturm one of the most rewarding towers on the Musegg Wall.

The Time Tower is currently open daily from April 1 through November 1, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, and admission is free.