Construction of the New Tower

Also known as the Clock Tower or the Knights' Tower, the New Tower is a vestige of the second wall built in 1280.

Originally, the Tour Neuve consisted of a crenellated terrace with hexagonal watchtowers at each of its 4 corners. A front door, a sort of open-air vestibule, provided the first line of defence and housed the drawbridge. A door in the tower at the level of the parapet walk ensured communication between the defenders of the advance and those of the enclosure.

With the development of artillery in the early 17th century, the tower was modified. A second, slightly recessed masonry structure was built on the terrace, supporting 4 watchtowers.

In 1891, the Tour Neuve fell victim to a fire that destroyed part of the district and left it without a roof for several months.

The painted decor of the New Tower

Several frescoes can be admired as you approach the Tour Neuve.

The south facade of the New Tower depicts a crucifixion scene. The fresco dates from 1436. It was restored in 1615 by Melchior Bittel and in 1952 by Arthur Graff. A final restoration was carried out in 2006 by Martine Missemer. Alongside Christ, the Virgin Mary and Saint John, you can see Sainte-Foy and Saint-Christophe. Below the fresco, three inscriptions in Latin refer to the alterations carried out in the 17th century.

Passing beneath the tower, two frescoes face each other. One depicts a number of the town's guilds in the Middle Ages, while the other depicts hunting and the grape harvest. The vault features the Sélestat lion and the Habsburg eagle.