The new tower guard of Lausanne is enthusiastic about his job
Published: Friday, Jan 5th 2024, 10:21
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Between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., he calls out the hours to the inhabitants of Lausanne from the cathedral bell tower: The new tower guard Alexandre Schmid feels like he's in seventh heaven after his first few nights.
On January 1, the 32-year-old from Lausanne took over from Renato Häusler, who had been in office for 20 years and retired in December. Like Häusler, Schmid now calls out the hours five times a night, with an average of five nights a week. He is supported by six deputies, including a woman for the first time in 2021.
"I had a bit of stage fright and anxiety on the first night. But that quickly subsided. Everything went well," said Schmid after three nights in an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency. "It's impressive to be up there, all alone in the dark. But it's nice and warm, you feel comfortable," said the new "Guet", as the hourly crier is called in French.
"Mysterious atmosphere"
The lookout has a small chamber with a small bunk in the cathedral bell tower, which he can furnish as he wishes. Apart from a few candles and books, it is still somewhat empty. The room offers space for a maximum of five to six people. To call the hours out into the city, he has to climb around 150 steps.
"This is exactly what I expected. There is something mysterious in the heights of the cathedral. It's a special atmosphere that I really appreciate," explained the lover of medieval history and connoisseur of the city of Lausanne. Between his rounds, the new "Guet" mainly wants to browse through books.
As far as working hours are concerned, he said that he still has to find his work and sleep rhythm. He arrives at his workplace at around 9.45 p.m. and leaves again at around 2.15 a.m. to go home near the train station. Schmid has a bachelor's degree in history and geography from the University of Lausanne and explained that this job is roughly equivalent to a 50 percent workload paid by the city. This allows him to have the standard of living he used to have as a student.
Since 1405
The "Guet" of Lausanne was first mentioned in writing in 1405, but it probably existed many decades earlier. At that time, the tower guard's task was not only to call out the hours from the cathedral, but also to warn of attacks or fires.
The European Brotherhood of Guards lists 58 cities in nine European countries where the tradition of the tower guard is still practiced, namely in Germany and Denmark. In Switzerland, in addition to Lausanne, there are still active guards in Bischofszell TG, Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein SH.
©Keystone/SDA
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