Meierturm: A Medieval Administrative Tower in Switzerland
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 5
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Switzerland
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Domestic
- Remains
- Elite Residence
History
Meierturm is a medieval tower in Silenen, Switzerland, built in the thirteenth century as the residence and administrative seat of the noble von Silenen family. The tower is also known as the Tower of the Noblemen of Silenen.
The von Silenen family served as meiers, medieval estate administrators responsible for managing the lands and rights of a higher-ranking institution, for Fraumünster Abbey in Zurich. The abbey was a historic religious institution that held extensive estates and exercised administrative authority over associated properties. From Meierturm, the family managed the abbey’s properties in the central Reuss Valley.
Meierturm is protected as a Swiss cultural property of national significance under inventory number 10449.
Remains
Meierturm survives as a masonry tower approximately 20 metres high, standing at an elevation of about 530 metres. Its internal staircase has 94 steps and rises to an observation platform 16 metres above ground level. From this platform, the tower looks toward the settlements of Amsteg and Silenen and the surrounding mountains of the Uri and Glarus Alps.
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