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 (4 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. (4 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. (6 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 (7 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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Lednice Castle

The first historical record of Lednice locality dates from 1222. At that time there stood a Gothic fort with courtyard, which was lent by Czech King Václav I to Austrian nobleman Sigfried Sirotek in 1249.

At the end of the 13th century the Liechtensteins, originally from Styria, became holders of all of Lednice and of nearby Mikulov. They gradually acquired land on both sides of the Moravian-Austrian border. Members of the family most often found fame in military service, during the Renaissance they expanded their estates through economic activity. From the middle of the 15th century members of the family occupied the highest offices in the land. However, the family’s position in Moravia really changed under the brothers Karel, Maximilian, and Gundakar of Liechtenstein. Through marriage Karel and Maximilian acquired the great wealth of the old Moravian dynasty of the Černohorskýs of Boskovice. At that time the brothers, like their father and grandfather, were Lutheran, but they soon converted to Catholicism, thus preparing the ground for their rise in politics. Particularly Karel, who served at the court of Emperor Rudolf II, became hetman of Moravia in 1608, and was later raised to princely status by King Matyas II and awarded the Duchy of Opava.

During the revolt of the Czech nobility he stood on the side of the Habsburgs, and took part in the Battle of White Mountain. After the uprising was defeated in 1620 he systematically acquired property confiscated from some of the rebels, and the Liechtensteins became the wealthiest family in Moravia, rising in status above the Žerotíns. Their enormous land holdings brought them great profits, and eventually allowed them to carry out their grandious building projects here in Lednice.

In the 16th century it was probably Hartmann II of Liechtenstein who had the old medieval water castle torn down and replaced with a Renaissance chateau. At the end of the 17th century the chateau was torn down and a Baroque palace was built, with an extensive formal garden, and a massive riding hall designed by Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach that still stands in almost unaltered form.

In the mid-18th century the chateau was again renovated, and in 1815 its front tracts that had been part of the Baroque chateau were removed.

The chateau as it looks today dates from 1846-1858, when Prince Alois II decided that Vienna was not suitable for entertaining in the summer, and had Lednice rebuilt into a summer palace in the spirit of English Gothic. The hall on the ground floor would serve to entertain the European aristocracy at sumptuous banquets, and was furnished with carved wood ceilings, wooden panelling, and select furniture, surpassing anything of its kind in Europe.

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