Tanners Tower

About

Tanners Tower is one of Sibiu’s most atmospheric medieval fortifications, standing quietly along the old city walls in the Lower Town. Built in the 15th century and maintained by the tanners’ guild, it reflects the era when each craft community was responsible for defending a section of the city. Its stout, circular shape and narrow firing slits reveal how seriously Sibiu took its security during turbulent centuries. Inside, the tower preserves a simple but evocative interior. Visitors step into thick stone walls that once sheltered guild members during sieges. One of the most interesting facts is that the tower’s lower level was used to store hides and tanning tools during peaceful times, making it both a defensive post and a functional workspace. The upper floors, accessed by wooden stairs, show how guards monitored the surroundings through small embrasures designed for crossbows and early firearms. The tower also offers a close look at Sibiu’s layered fortifications. From its windows, you can see the remains of the old walls and the charming Lower Town rooftops. Small exhibits explain the role of guilds in maintaining the city’s defenses and highlight the tanners’ importance in medieval trade.

Sibiu Romania

Location

Tanners Tower stands on Strada Pulberăriei in Sibiu’s Lower Town, a sturdy octagonal fortification from the 15th century. It was part of the city’s fourth defensive wall and was maintained by the Tanners Guild, whose workshops once lined this part of town. Also called the Small Powder Tower, it has four levels with loopholes for artillery and a pyramidal roof topped by a metal wind vane. The tower survived a violent history: it exploded in 1566 when gunpowder stored inside caught fire, burned again in 1570, and was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1638 before being rebuilt the same year. Today it is a striking survivor of medieval Sibiu, though the interior is not open to the public and the tower appears abandoned. Because it sits just outside the old Upper Town walls, Tanners Tower is a short walk from Sibiu’s main sights. From here you can stroll 15–20 minutes to Piața Mare, the grand main square with the Brukenthal National Museum in the baroque Brukenthal Palace, the Council Tower, and colorful merchants’ houses. Nearby are Piața Mică with the Bridge of Lies, Albert Huet Square, and the Gothic Evangelical Cathedral. The Stairs Passage connects the Lower Town to the Upper Town, and the Orthodox Cathedral, History Museum in Altemberger House, and Museum of Pharmaceutical History are all close by.