Hochwacht Wildensbuch Observation Tower

Hochwacht Wildensbuch Observation Tower rises from a hilltop above the village of Wildensbuch, part of the municipality of Trüllikon in northern canton Zurich. The timber tower is 37 metres tall and gives a wide view across the wine-growing Zürcher Weinland.

What is this place?

The name "Hochwacht" means a lookout post, and this hill earned it. Around 1650 the Zurich authorities set up a beacon station here, one of 23 in the canton. The stations signalled to each other, so word of a threat could cross the territory quickly. The tower standing there today picks up the same idea: it lets you look far out over the landscape.

The present structure opened in 2010, though some sources give 2009 as the year of construction. It is built of wood on a concrete base, about 8.5 metres wide, with the viewing platform at roughly 33 metres. It was a joint project of the former civil municipality of Wildensbuch, Trüllikon, and the Schlatt TG citizens' association, and it also marks the end of Wildensbuch as a separate civil municipality.

What can you see from the top?

The hill sits at about 546 to 550 metres above sea level, and the platform adds a good thirty metres on top. Below you lie the rolling fields, woods and villages of the Weinland. On a clear day the Alps appear along the horizon. Hikers also report views towards the Hegau and the Black Forest, which makes sense given how close the tower stands to the German border.

How to plan a visit

The tower sits on walking and cycling routes through the area and works well as the goal of a short outing from Wildensbuch. Expect a long climb up the stairs, so wear sturdy shoes. Crisp, clear days after a weather front give the best range of sight, and autumn and winter air is often the cleanest. If the Alps are your target, go in the morning or early afternoon when there is no haze.

You can combine the visit with the wine villages of the Weinland or with the Zürcher Weinland Weg, a long-distance route that runs through the region.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the tower?

On the Hochwacht hill above Wildensbuch, in the municipality of Trüllikon, canton Zurich. The coordinates are about 47.656 N, 8.683 E.

How tall is it?

The tower is 37 metres high and the viewing platform is at around 33 metres.

What is it made of?

Timber on a concrete foundation.

What can you see from the platform?

The Zürcher Weinland and, in good weather, the Alps, the Hegau and the Black Forest.

When was it built?

The current tower opened in 2010. The lookout point on the hill dates back to around 1650.