Watchtower

A watchtower or guardtower (also spelt watch tower, guard tower) is a type of <a href="/facts/Military/kgNmLUnN">military</a>/<a href="/facts/Paramilitary/mevWLG3M">paramilitary</a> or <a href="/facts/Police/rrdGISgt">policiary</a> <a href="/facts/Tower/3k5G8kJt">tower</a> used for guarding an area. Sometimes <a href="/facts/Fortification/pyH0FXhH">fortified</a>, and armed with heavy weaponry, especially historically, the structures are built in areas of established control. These include military bases, cities occupied by military forces, prisons and more. A common equipment is <a href="/facts/Searchlight/Gprkyush">searchlights</a>.
It differs from a regular <a href="/facts/Tower/3k5G8kJt">tower</a> in that its <a href="/facts/Fortified_tower/XwCDzpSz">primary use is military/policiary</a> and from a <a href="/facts/Turret_(architecture)/D0JqwcDP">turret</a> in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to provide a high, safe place from which a sentinel or guard may observe the surrounding area. In some cases, non-military towers, such as <a href="/facts/Pagoda/KekTlSK1">religious towers</a>, may also be used as watchtowers.
Similar constructions include: <a href="/facts/Observation_tower/RuBt6tNb">observation towers</a>, which are generally civilian structures, and <a href="/facts/Control_tower/G2cQebVb">control towers</a>, used on airports or harbours.

Watchtower open-in-new

Watchtower