Thomas Tower

The Thomas Tower is a former watchtower of the Basel city wall. He was the northernmost shore point of the city and served as a fortified tower of the outer city wall opposite the Rhein and the land.

The Thomas tower is mentioned in the guard order of 1374 as " sant Thomans thurne " name. There was also stated that the sailors and fishermen were responsible for the tower. The Thomas Tower is named after Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury, who was murdered in 1170 in his cathedral. A statue in his honor was at the side of the tower Rhine forward -looking statements.

1806, the statue was removed and removed the upper floors of the tower. The Grand Council of Basel had decided to reshape itself exploiting dividend at the Tower Hills- a promenade and to sacrifice to the tower. As 1882/1883 of the " St. Johanns- Rheinweg " was created, disappeared the lower floors in the ground; it was from the tower that loomed once from the Rhine, a tower stub, which in 1888 was fitted with a decorative battlements.

The former tower height with the flat pyramid roof you can imagine no more, if you look at today's Thomas tower with battlements pulpit. At the foot of the tower the traditional salute of artillery shooting club Basel-Stadt takes place on St. Barbara, December 4, at 18.30 clock in the evening instead.