| Schnitzturm | |
|---|---|
Schnitzturm | |
| Stansstad, Nidwalden in Switzerland | |
 | |
  Schnitzturm  Schnitzturm | |
| Coordinates | 46°58′51″N8°20′16″E / 46.980929°N 8.337663°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | Early 14th century |
The Schnitzturm is a stone tower in the municipality of Stansstad in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland. It is part of the Teller / Palisaden medieval fortifications which are a Swiss heritage site of national significance. [1]
The first fortification along the lake shore was the Teller, a wooden block building and wall built out in Lake Lucerne and dendrochronologically dated to 1206/07. In the late 13th or early 14th centuries the tower was built on an artificial spit which projected out into the lake as part of the defenses around Stansstad. In addition to the Schnitzturm, a defensive wall or palisade consisting of about 8,000 wooden pillars driven into the lake at a depth of about 2 m (6.6 ft). The palisade had a channel in it, known as the Grendel, to allow boats to enter the harbor. [2] Exactly when the tower was first built is unknown, but it appears in a 1428 chronicle of the 1315 Battle of Morgarten. According to the chronicle, during an attack of Habsburg troops from Lucerne, an enemy ship was destroyed by a mill stone launched from the tower. [3] Despite the efforts of the defenders, the attackers broke through and Stansstad was plundered. After the 1315 attack, the defenses were strengthened with earthen and stone walls and ditches along the shore. [4]
The Schnitzturm and other defenses lost their importance after 1332 when Lucerne joined the Old Swiss Confederacy. The palisade was not repaired as the posts rotted away. After the division of Unterwalden into Obwalden and Nidwalden in the 1350s, both successor half-cantons were responsible for upkeep of the defenses at Stansstad. This arraignment proved to be problematic and by 1587 the tower had fallen into disrepair. In that year, a special Landsgemeinde decided to repair the tower. The project took about two years and completely renovated the tower. The round arch windows were added as was the current entrance on the south side at ground level. The original entrance on the second floor corner was closed off. A flat hipped roof was built on top of the tower. [4]
The roof was damaged by lightning in 1634 and only partly repaired in the following year. The interior was soon destroyed by the leaky roof and the tower began to be used to dry fishing nets. [3] It was repaired again by Obwalden in 1736. The last military use of the tower was during the 1798 French invasion. The palisade was hastily replaced with floating fir tree trunks and the Schnitzturm was manned. They held off the French fleet for several days, but on 9 April 1798 French troops broke through on the land side and captured the town. The town and the tower were burned by the victorious soldiers. [3] In 1880 the cantonal authorities repaired the tower, built a staircase and observation platform and readded the crenelations that existed before the 1635 roof. [4]
The grounds around the tower are open to the public year-round. From 1 May though 30 September the tower is open during daylight hours. [3] The tower has a 8.8 m (29 ft) square footprint and is 16 m (52 ft) high. The walls are 1.4 m (4.6 ft) thick at the base. [2]
Unterwalden, translated from the Latin inter silvas, is the old name of a forest-canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy in central Switzerland, south of Lake Lucerne, consisting of two valleys or Talschaften, now two separate Swiss cantons, Obwalden and Nidwalden.
Lake Lucerne is a lake in central Switzerland and the fourth largest in the country.
Pilatus, also often referred to as Mount Pilatus, is a mountain massif overlooking Lucerne in Central Switzerland. It is composed of several peaks, of which the highest (2,128.5 m [6,983 ft]) is named Tomlishorn.
The canton of Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the country's central, German-speaking part. The population of the canton is 416,347. As of 2007, the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is the city of Lucerne.
Stans is the capital of the canton of Nidwalden (Nidwald) in Switzerland.
Obwalden or Obwald is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of seven municipalities and the seat of the government and parliament is in Sarnen. It is traditionally considered a "half-canton", the other half being Nidwalden.
Nidwalden or Nidwald is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven municipalities and the seat of the government and parliament is in Stans. It is traditionally considered a "half-canton", the other half being Obwalden.
Stansstad is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.
Each of the 26 modern cantons of Switzerland has an official flag and a coat of arms. The history of development of these designs spans the 13th to the 20th centuries.
The Engelberger Aa is a river in Switzerland. It rises west of the Surenenpass in the Canton of Uri, flows through the valley of Engelberg (Obwalden) and Nidwalden. At Buochs it flows into Lake Lucerne and is therefore a tributary of the Reuss, which drains the lake.
The Castles of Bellinzona are a group of fortifications located around the town of Bellinzona, the capital of the Swiss canton of Ticino. Situated on the Alpine foothills, the group is composed of fortified walls and three castles named Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. Castelgrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of walls that protect the old city and connect to Montebello. Sasso Corbaro, the highest of the three castles, is located on an isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other two. The Castles of Bellinzona with their defensive walls have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Zug Castle is a castle in the municipality of Zug of the Canton of Zug in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Pfäffikon Castle is a castle in the municipality of Freienbach of the Canton of Schwyz in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Stansstad railway station is a Swiss railway station in the municipality of Stansstad in the canton of Nidwalden. It is on the Luzern–Stans–Engelberg line, owned by the Zentralbahn railway company, and is adjacent to the bridge that carries the line across the Alpnachersee arm of Lake Lucerne and into the Lopper II tunnel.
Rotzberg or Rotzburg is a ruined castle in the municipality of Ennetmoos in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.
The Hexenturm is a stone tower in the municipality of Sarnen in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The name refers to its use as a prison for suspected witches in the 17th century. Today it houses the Cantonal Archives of Obwalden.
Landenberg Castle is a ruined castle atop a hill in the municipality of Sarnen in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. In the 18th century an armory and firing range were built on the site. The Landenberg Armory is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The ruins of the castle was the meeting place of the Landsgemeinde or Cantonal assembly for over three centuries.
Rudenz Castle is a ruined castle atop a hill in the municipality of Giswil in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. The castle and surroundings are a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Rosenberg Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Giswil in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland.
