The Wall of the Musegg


The Musegg Wall is the only surviving military fortification of Lucerne , which preserved the architectural and historical heritage of the late Middle Ages.

History of the construction of the Musegg wall

The construction of this city fortification began in the XIII century. Just at this time the city began to expand, so there was an urgent need to protect the possessions and the population from the enemies. According to scientists, the oldest part of the wall is the tower Lugisland. It was built in 1367. In the middle of the XIX century, by order of the authorities, some sections of the Musegg Wall were destroyed. The authorities believed that the wall hinders the normal development of the transport network of the city. Due to the fact that the fortress is in the northern part of the city, it had little impact on the city transport network. Only this saved the wall of Musegg from complete destruction.

What is interesting about the wall of the Musegg?

At present, the length of the Musegg fortress wall is 870 meters, and its width is 1.5 meters. Due to the uneven distribution of the towers, it is difficult to determine the exact height of the structure. On average, it is 9 meters.

This ancient building unites nine towers:

Each of these towers is unique in its own way. All of them (with the exception of the Noli tower) stand for the level of the main wall. Previously, each tower could be climbed through the internal entrance. Now these moves are closed. The Manly Tower has a saddle roof, on which rises the figure of a "cheerful soldier". In ancient times, such roofs were on each tower, but in 1513-1597 they were rebuilt.

Especially noteworthy is the Tower of Zit (Zeit - clock), which is adorned with the largest clock in Lucerne. It is for them that local people compare time. It is believed that the dial of the tower Tsit is so big that its time can be seen by fishermen from the Firvaldshtetsky lake . The westernmost point of the wall is the Red Tower of Zero. In 1901 a special arch was made in it, so that passing vehicles could pass this section without hindrance.

Along the whole wall of Musegg, a path is trampled along which tourist excursions usually take place. The Tower of Shirmer, Tsit and Manly are always open to visitors. You can see the wall itself or admire the view that opens from its viewing platforms to the River Reis, the old part of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne.

This place is worth a visit already because it is the only building in the city of this scale. Against the backdrop of modern infrastructure, the walls of this ancient fortification look even more solemn and majestic.

How to get there?

The Wall of Musegg is located on the embankment of the Royce River , more precisely on St. Karliquai. To get there, take the bus route number 9 to the stop Brüggligasse.