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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Fishermen's Tower, listed as a historic monument since 1923, is located in Haguenau, in the Lower Rhine. Built between 1228 and 1235, it is part of the second enclosure of the city, erected around 1230. This octagonal tower, made of bricks and blocks of sandstone, had an arch over the Moder River, once closed by a harrow to control river access. It symbolizes the strategic importance of Haguenau, then surrounded by three successive enclosures.

The tower was modified in the 16th century, with additions to the higher levels. It was used to protect the entrance of the city by the river, then navigable until the Revolution. Today, it retains traces of its defensive role, like three guns pointing outwards. Its vaulted ground floor and restored arrow testify to its hybrid architecture, mixing Middle Ages and later eras.

Integrated into local life, the tower now hosts summer cultural events, such as the tour's appointment, with concerts and workshops. Its location on the Fishermen's wharf, opposite Robert Schuman High School, makes it an emblematic place of the city. The remains of Haguenau's successive enclosures, of which she is one of the few witnesses, recall her past of declassified stronghold in 1867.

The Fishermen's Tower illustrates the urban evolution of Haguenau, marked by medieval fortifications gradually dismantled from 1871. Its ranking in 1923 allowed its preservation, despite the destruction of many other defensive elements. Today owned by the municipality, it remains a symbol of the Alsatian heritage, mixing military history and contemporary cultural life.

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