Hexenturm Castle (Sarnen)

Around 1285, the Hexenturm was built by the Knights Kellner von Sarnen, an Obwalden family, as part of the “Lower Castle of Sarnen.” Around 1315, it came into the possession of the Canton of Obwalden and was used to store gunpowder and as an archive. It also served as an interrogation chamber and treasury. From the 15th century onwards, it functioned as a prison, whose dungeon, in use until 1798, gave the tower its current, albeit inaccurate, name in the 19th century. The name Hexenturm is only documented since 1861. In 1877, it was converted for its planned use as a museum, with a new entrance created and windows bricked up. A restoration in 1985/1986 largely restored its medieval appearance, with only the 18th-century structure remaining. For its use as an archive, a self-supporting steel skeleton construction was installed inside, which protects the historical building fabric. In 2009, the tower received a new, covered steel exterior staircase designed by artist Kurt Sigrist.

Today, the Hexenturm houses the historical holdings of the Obwalden State Archives from 1210 to 1850, including the White Book of Sarnen from 1470. The tower is not publicly accessible.