Shell tower
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A shell tower (also called a half shell tower or Schanzturm ) is a stone defensive tower in an outer wall, which is open at the back or in a lightweight construction. Towers of this type were used in city walls, for example. Even town gates can be built in the form of a tray tower. Shell towers are open at the rear so that the enemy cannot find refuge once they have overcome the first wall. In addition, this design saves costs.
description
In contrast to full towers, which were surrounded by walls all around, shell towers were open on the inside, for example on the city side or the inner castle . On this side, a wooden railing was attached to the individual floors to protect people and objects from falling. The open side was partly closed with wooden cladding or with light half-timbered walls.
Most shell towers had a semicircular floor plan, but there were also those with a square floor plan.
Examples
- Semicircular shell towers
- Bergerschanz Tower in Aachen , Germany
- Endingerturm in Rapperswil, Switzerland
- Haldenturm in Rapperswil, Switzerland
- Karlsturm in Aachen
- Shield tower in Aachen
- Defense tower at Gänsbühl in Ravensburg , Germany
City wall towers in
- Dinkelsbühl , Germany
- Bad Hersfeld , Germany
- Einbeck , Germany
- Freiburg im Üechtland , Switzerland
Bitzenturm, Ahrweiler
Dinkelsbühl
Ravensburg
Sisteron (South of France)
- Square shell towers
- Krichelenturm in Aachen
- Schänzchen in Aachen
- Porte d'Orange in Carpentras , France
City wall towers in
- Payerne , Switzerland
- Ston , Croatia
- Głogów , Poland
- Avignon and Aigues-Mortes (drawing)
Payerne
Ston
Głogów
Avignon, Aigues-Mortes
literature
- Carl Rhoen : The fortifications of the free imperial city of Aachen . Anton Creutzer, Aachen 1894, p. 18th f ., urn : nbn: de: hbz: 061: 1-230540 ( ISL Aachen [PDF; accessed on May 7, 2016]).
