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Origin and history

The Thief Tower, known as Schelmenturm, is a vestige of the fortified enclosure of Ammerschwihr, located in the Upper Rhine (Great East). Although its initial construction may date back to the 14th century, during the fortification of the city, its present appearance is the result of a reorganization in the 2nd quarter of the 16th century. It consists of three floors: the lower two have bosses, while the third has two sundials, restored in 1905. Its name probably evokes its historical use, although the sources do not specify its exact function.

The tower is located at the crossroads of the Grand-Rue and the Wine Road, in the heart of the wine village of Ammerschwihr. It was listed as historic monuments by order of 5 May 1931, thereby recognizing its heritage value. Owned by the municipality, it bears witness to the Alsatian defensive architecture and the medieval and Renaissance urban history of the region. Its state of conservation and remarkable elements (such as sundials) make it a point of local interest.

The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) underline its role in the built landscape of Ammerschwihr, but do not mention any sponsor or specific milestone related to its construction. The tower, however, illustrates the techniques of fortification in vogue in the 14th–12th centuries in Alsace, where the cities built ramparts to protect themselves from regional conflicts. Its popular name, Tower of Thiefs, could reflect local legends or prison usage, although this remains hypothetical in the absence of detailed archival documents.

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