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About this place
Wasserturm Bruderholz in Basel is a 36-metre water tower from 1926 that rises on the Bruderholz hill in the south of the city. It no longer works as a utility building and is now listed as an observation tower overlooking Basel and its surroundings.
What is the Bruderholz water tower?
The tower went up in 1926, when the Bruderholz district was filling with new housing. Homes on the hill sit higher than most of Basel, so they needed their own reservoir to keep water pressure steady. That explains the slender, tall silhouette that stands out against meadows and villa neighbourhoods. Wikidata describes it as a former water tower and a present-day observation tower.
What will you see?
The structure is 36 m tall and stands on a hill about 394 m above sea level. According to the alpen-guide travel guide, the viewing platform is at 27 m and is reached by 164 steps. From the top you look across Basel's built-up areas, while the ground around the tower is green space and open meadow, typical of Bruderholz. The coordinates are 47.5282 N, 7.5926 E.
How do you get to Bruderholz?
The hill belongs to the Basel-Bruderholz district, south of the city centre. Public transport from the centre usually takes a quarter of an hour or so; check the BVB app for the stop nearest the tower. The surrounding footpaths make the tower an easy add-on to a short walk.
When should you go?
Views are best on clear days with good visibility. Spring and early autumn suit Bruderholz well, when the hill's greenery is at its most vivid. Access to the platform has varied over time, so check with the city's water utility, Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB), before you set out. In 2002 the tower was opened free of charge, with no registration, during a one-day outdoor event.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is the Bruderholz water tower?
It is 36 m tall, with the viewing platform at 27 m.
When was it built, and why?
In 1926, to supply water to homes in the growing Bruderholz neighbourhood, which lies higher than the rest of Basel.
How many steps lead to the platform?
The alpen-guide travel guide gives 164.
Is it still a working water tower?
Wikidata calls it a former water tower and a current observation tower.
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