Tag:tower:type=bridge

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Public-images-osm logo.svg tower:type = bridge
Prag Altstädter Brückenturm 1835.jpg
Description
Bridge tower Show/edit corresponding data item.
Group: man made
Used on these elements
may be used on nodesshould not be used on waysmay be used on areas (and multipolygon relations)should not be used on relations (except multipolygon relations)
Useful combination
Status: in use

 Bridge tower was a type of fortified tower built on a bridge. They were typically built in the period up to early modern times as part of a city or town wall or castle. There is usually a tower at both ends of the bridge.

Function

These towers were built in pre-medieval and medieval times to guard access to the bridge and to enable the charging of tolls on important roads crossing rivers, usually near towns and cities. The rivers were often part of the defences of these settlements. As a result, it was important from a defensive perspective that the bridges did not allow attacking enemies to break in. The bridges acted as a bulwark and often had a small drawbridge. In addition to their genuine protective and defensive functions they also played a symbolic and architectural role. Often these towers were the first public buildings that the travellers saw when approaching the city.

The high cost of such towers was usually paid for by charging tolls. The gates of bridge towers were closed at night, so that no-one could cross the bridge during silent hours.

Neo-Romanesque bridge towers were built in the 19th century. The purpose of those towers was above all architectural decoration but also defensive. After the bridge tolls have finally been abolished in the beginning of the 20th century, the towers lost their function and were often dismantled. Today, the few surviving bridge bridges serve as the landmark of the city and are an attraction for tourists.

How to map

Place a node node or draw an area area of the tower's outline. Tag it man_made=tower and tower:type=bridge (mandatory).

Ways and layers under tower bridges

If the bridge tower is standing on the bridge there is usually one more more ways (highway=* or railway=*) going through it.
Consider to add the tag barrier=sally_port here.
Tag the bridge tower with the same layer=* as it is on the way going through the tower.
Try to determine the height of the passage (maxheight=*) and tag it on the appropriate way segment.
This way segment can be tagged as tunnel=building_passage or for very short way segments covered=yes.

Examples