Of the former 26 towers of the city’s 2,600-meter-long defensive wall, only six remain, and it is clearly the most beautiful: the Five-Button Tower in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Built in the 15th century, the defense tower with the unusual pentagonal ground plan monitored the Lower Gate from the main wall. The tower’s special name comes from the five button-like attachments found on each of the three oriel-like turrets on the tower’s roof as well as on its hipped roof. Until the 20th century it was the official fire watch tower of the town. Until 2003, the tower and the tower keeper’s apartment were rented out privately.
