Jacob Tower

The Jacob tower, remnant of the Wenceslas wall

The Luxembourg audio-guided tour stops you before the Jacob gate, also called Dinselpuert. This monumental gate was part of the Wenceslas wall, built in the fifteenth century, and impressed in its time with its drawbridge, its moats and its artillery casemate on the top floor.

The wall of Duke Wenceslas

The new wall took the name of Duke Wenceslas, who reigned in Luxembourg at the time of its construction. It protected the inhabitants of the valley and made it possible to integrate into the fortifications both the lower town and the Rham plateau, then raised. The Jacob tower, a remnant of great richness, illustrates the defensive power of the city in the Middle Ages.

What there is to see

You admire the rectangular silhouette of the tower, one of the rare remnants of the Wenceslas wall. Its position, along the Chemin de la Corniche, makes it a natural stop on a visit to the fortifications. It recalls the time when the city was entirely ringed by walls and fortified gates.

Practical information

The Jacob tower, or Dinselpuert, is along the Chemin de la Corniche, in the old town of Luxembourg. It can be contemplated freely at all hours from the street. The area is part of the fortifications route, listed as World Heritage.

From what era does the Jacob tower date?

The Jacob tower was part of the Wenceslas wall, built in the fifteenth century, which took the name of Duke Wenceslas reigning in Luxembourg at the time of its construction.

How was the gate defended?

The Jacob gate had a drawbridge, moats and an artillery casemate on the top floor, which made it an impressive defensive structure for its time.