Wasserturm Allschwil

Wasserturm Allschwil is a water tower in Allschwil, a municipality in the Swiss canton of Basel-Landschaft, on the western edge of the Basel urban area close to the French border. Standing 42.5 metres tall, the concrete tower is one of the town's most recognisable landmarks and can be spotted from a long way off.

What is the Allschwil water tower?

It is working utility infrastructure rather than a heritage monument. Construction began in 1970 and finished in 1973. The ground here is soft loess, so the tower rests on concrete piles 18 metres long. Inside are two reservoirs holding 990 cubic metres of drinking water in total, of which 100 cubic metres is kept as firefighting reserve.

What is there to see?

The main draw is the rooftop terrace. According to a structures database, the platform sits at roughly 38 metres, just below the top of the tower. The terrace was opened to the public in 1983 after the interior was altered. For the municipality the tower is a point of local identity: council documents describe it as a far-visible structure that helps define the town.

Can you go up?

Not at the moment. A 2026 report by the Allschwil municipal council to the town parliament says the tower has been closed to visitors for some time because its emergency exits do not meet current safety rules. On top of that, no final building acceptance exists for the 1983 alterations, so the original permit had to be reassessed. The council says it wants to reopen the tower once the legal and construction work is complete, but gives no date. Check allschwil.ch for the current status before you travel.

How to plan a visit

Allschwil lies just west of central Basel and is linked to it by public transport, so a stop here fits easily into a day in the city. Even with the terrace closed, the tower makes a handy landmark on a walk through the area. Databases give the street address differently (Herrenweg or Pfandgrabenweg), so search by the tower's name and confirm the location on a map.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the Allschwil water tower?

It is 42.5 m high, with the viewing platform at about 38 m.

When was it built?

Construction ran from 1970 to 1973.

Is the viewing terrace open?

Not currently. The tower is closed to the public for safety reasons, and the municipality plans to reopen it once the formal issues are settled.

How much water does it hold?

Two reservoirs hold 990 cubic metres of drinking water, including 100 cubic metres of firefighting reserve.