Martinstower, Bregenz, Ghid vizitatori și ce de văzut în apropiere

The Martinsturm (Martin's Tower) is the landmark of the old town of Bregenz, on Lake Constance in Austria. It is topped by a large onion dome, described as the largest tower onion in Central Europe, and for centuries it served as the town's lookout. Today it is a good place for a view over the lake, the city and the mountains.

The story behind it

Around the time Bregenz's upper town was founded, about 1250, a granary with a pyramid roof stood on this spot. In 1362 a chapel dedicated to St. Martin was donated on its upper floor, and it later received rich fresco decoration. Between 1599 and 1601 the city had the building raised, adding a mezzanine, a floor with the watchman's quarters, an arcade level and the onion-shaped roof. The old granary became a tower.

From then on the Martinsturm was the high watch of Bregenz. For centuries a tower guard was on duty up here to warn the townspeople of fire. Since 2015 the tower has housed a permanent exhibition on the history of the city.

What to look for

• The huge onion dome crowning the tower stands out from almost anywhere in the upper town, so look up as you climb toward it.
• The arcade level below the roof shows how the 1599 to 1601 extension turned a plain granary into a proper watchtower.
• On the steep Stadtsteig and in the gatehouse passage leading into the Oberstadt, look for the old coats of arms and the sundial with its verse in the local dialect, which begins "Nutz diene Zit" (use your time).
• From the upper levels, the panorama takes in the rooftops of the old town, the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 30 minutes to see the tower from outside and wander the nearby lanes, and more if you want to visit the exhibition and the view.
• Check current opening hours and access before you go, as the tower is not open at all times.
• The Oberstadt is small and walkable, so combine the tower with a slow loop through the old town's streets and gates.
• Clear afternoons and early evenings give the best light on the dome and the longest views over the lake.

See it on a quest

You can reach the Martinsturm on foot as one stop of The Symphony’s Secret: A Bregenz Mystery, a self-guided route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you, so you look at the tower and its surroundings far more closely than on a quick photo stop. It is free to play, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.