Tour des Bouchers (Butchers' Tower) Ribeauvillé

The Fleischerturm with its adjoining city walls separates the historic old town from the new town.

In the 13th century, Ribeauvillé was built as a town and surrounded by a wall. It is divided into four districts, each of which has its own fortifications: gate towers allow passage from one to the other. Most of them disappeared in the 19th century; currently only the butchers' tower remains, which was built between the middle town and the old town. It owes its name to the butchery activity that developed in the houses at its feet. It originally had three floors and was raised in 1536, the Renaissance-style balustrade bears the coat of arms of Ribeaupierre. It served as a bell tower and prison. After a fire in 1803 it was badly damaged and its demolition was considered, but fortunately the project was not successful.
Source:
guide-tourisme-france.com/VISITER/tour-bouchers--ribeauville-37843.htm

The Tour des Bouchers is a striking building with an imposing tower that rises in the middle of the old town of Ribeauvillé. It was built in the 13th century and once served as part of the city's fortifications and as a watchtower.

The building has fulfilled various functions over the centuries. Among other things, it was used as a defense tower, a prison and also as a butchers' guild and craft house, which explains its name. Today, the Tour des Bouchers is a significant historical monument and a popular landmark in Ribeauvillé.