Clock Tower, Zug, Switzerland - SpottingHistory.com

From a distance, the dome of the Zug clock tower appears blue-white but as you get closer to it, you can see the time on it. But not just the time, it also shows the month, the phase of the moon, the day of the week and whether it is a leap year or not. The tower was actually built as a way through the oldest city walls and later part of it was used as a prison as well as housing a room to keep warm by an open fire. Today the 52-metre-high tower is open to everyone, an opportunity not to be missed. After all, where else other than Zug can you get the key yourself to a city landmark.

The tower was originally built in the 13th century and heightened in 1478-1480. The current appearance dates from 1557.

References:

Zug Tourism

Castles and fortifications in Switzerland

User Reviews

Claudio Kuenzler (7 months ago)
This rating is in general for the old town of Zug. Very small but very beautiful and nicely maintained old town, split into the upper and lower (towards lake) old town sections. Interesting buildings, some with art decorations and at least two fountains. Very nice for a quick walk but as mentioned not very big. 5-10 min walk max. But beautiful.

Y.H. (7 months ago)
The ancient clock tower of Zug that is called in Swiss-German "Zytturm", is a remarkable architectural pearl. It was built in the medieval era to supervise the old town against fire. The tower is located at the heart of the old town of Zug and from the top you have a 360° view of the town and the lake. To climb to the top, you have to get the key from the souvenir shop at the ground level by deposit your passport or ID. On the way to the top, you can see the mechanical clock and the old prison. Below the tower there is a gate to the old town, don't miss a visit there!!

Stanisław A. (9 months ago)
Characteristic building in Zug. The tower has a traditional clock with a large face and a second face that shows the days in the signs of the Zodiac.

Neli Zah (10 months ago)
Because of coronavirus it was so peaceful and relaxing walk

channel max (2 years ago)
The clock tower (Zytturm) of Zug is one of the symbolic places of the city. Passing under its portal you have access to one of the most characteristic points of the ancient historical center. The tower, built in the thirteenth century, was part of the medieval fortifications of the village. Also used as a fire tower, has a splendid astronomical clock, built in 1550 (approximately) which also marks the phases of the moon and leap years. On the facade of the tower, the coats of arms of the 8 cantons that originated the Swiss Confederation are painted.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Varvara_R

Historic Site of the week

Trinity Sergius Lavra

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a world famous spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church and a popular site of pilgrimage and tourism. It is the most important working Russian monastery and a residence of the Patriarch. This religious and military complex represents an epitome of the growth of Russian architecture and contains some of that architecture’s finest expressions. It exerted a profound influence on architecture in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe.

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, was founded in 1337 by the monk Sergius of Radonezh. Sergius achieved great prestige as the spiritual adviser of Dmitri Donskoi, Great Prince of Moscow, who received his blessing to the battle of Kulikov of 1380. The monastery started as a little wooden church on Makovets Hill, and then developed and grew stronger through the ages.

Over the centuries a unique ensemble of more than 50 buildings and constructions of different dates were established. The whole complex was erected according to the architectural concept of the main church, the Trinity Cathedral (1422), where the relics of St. Sergius may be seen.

In 1476 Pskovian masters built a brick belfry east of the cathedral dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The church combines unique features of early Muscovite and Pskovian architecture. A remarkable feature of this church is a bell tower under its dome without internal interconnection between the belfry and the cathedral itself.

The Cathedral of the Assumption, echoing the Cathedral of the Assumption in the Moscow Kremlin, was erected between 1559 and 1585. The frescoes of the Assumption Cathedral were painted in 1684. At the north-western corner of the Cathedral, on the site of the western porch, in 1780 a vault containing burials of Tsar Boris Godunov and his family was built.

In the 16th century the monastery was surrounded by 6 meters high and 3,5 meters thick defensive walls, which proved their worth during the 16-month siege by Polish-Lithuanian invaders during the Time of Trouble. They were later strengthened and expanded.

After the Upheaval of the 17th century a large-scale building programme was launched. At this time new buildings were erected in the north-western part of the monastery, including infirmaries topped with a tented church dedicated to Saints Zosima and Sawatiy of Solovki (1635-1637). Few such churches are still preserved, so this tented church with a unique tiled roof is an important contribution to the Lavra.

In the late 17th century a number of new buildings in Naryshkin (Moscow) Baroque style were added to the monastery.

Following a devastating fire in 1746, when most of the wooden buildings and structures were destroyed, a major reconstruction campaign was launched, during which the appearance of many of the buildings was changed to a more monumental style. At this time one of the tallest Russian belfries (88 meters high) was built.

In the late 18th century, when many church lands were secularized, the chaotic planning of the settlements and suburbs around the monastery was replaced by a regular layout of the streets and quarters. The town of Sergiev Posad was surrounded by traditional ramparts and walls. In the vicinity of the monastery a number of buildings belonging to it were erected: a stable yard, hotels, a hospice, a poorhouse, as well as guest and merchant houses. Major highways leading to the monastery were straightened and marked by establishing entry squares, the overall urban development being oriented towards the centrepiece - the Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra.

In 1993, the Trinity Lavra was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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