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While most buildings reflect the architectural trends of their time, some structures stand out as truly unusual. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, for instance, is renowned for its iconic tilt.
It might surprise you that it isn't the only leaning tower out there. It's simply the most famous. Some other towers are even more tilted, with richer histories and fascinating backstories than the Pisa Tower itself.
10. Minaret of JamGhor, Afghanistan
Constructed in 1194, the 65-meter-tall (213 ft) Minaret of Jam has a tilt of approximately 3.47 degrees, which is less than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. However, the minaret is 9 meters (30 ft) taller than the Pisa Tower, which was built more than a century later.
The minaret was erected by the Ghurids, a tribe that ruled over an empire stretching from Iran to Bengal. The empire's capital, Firozkoh, meaning 'Turquoise Mountain,' has been lost to history, but it's believed to have been near the minaret's location.
The tilt of the structure is due to the soft, waterlogged ground beneath it. The area is where two mountain gorges and rivers converge, and the land itself is only slightly level.
The minaret isn't widely known because of its remote location. Visitors must endure a 12-hour trip across rough, rocky roads. Historically, the area was notorious for bandits who would rob travelers. Currently, the Taliban controls the region, and the river often floods during spring and summer.
9. Minaret of the Great Mosque of Al-NuriMosul, Iraq
The Great Mosque of al-Nuri was constructed in 1172 under the direction of Nur al-Din Mahmoud Zangi, after whom the mosque is named. He ruled the areas of present-day Mosul and Aleppo. Nur al-Din was renowned for his leadership in the jihad against the Christian Crusaders, culminating in the capture of Damascus, which was under Crusader control at the time.
A Sunni Muslim, Nur al-Din was known for his efforts to establish Sunni dominance over the Shiites. It is no surprise that in July 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed leader of the Islamic State, chose to announce the creation of a 'caliphate' within the mosque after his terrorists seized Mosul from Iraqi forces.
The original mosque built by Nur al-Din has long since collapsed and was replaced. However, the original 45-meter-tall (150 ft) minaret, known as al-Hadba ('the humpback'), still stands. While the exact reason and time of the tilt remain a mystery, the leaning of the minaret has been noted since the 14th century.
According to local legend, the humpbacked minaret tilted when Muhammad flew overhead on his journey to heaven. This story is, of course, fictional, as Muhammad passed away long before the minaret's construction. Experts believe the tilt resulted from heavy winds, the weak plaster used to bind the bricks, or the uneven sunlight hitting one side of the structure.
During the Iran-Iraq War, bombs aimed at Mosul damaged several underground pipes, allowing sewage to seep into the ground. This contamination weakened the building's foundation and exacerbated the tilt.
In 2012, UNESCO warned that the humpbacked minaret was at risk of collapse. However, this concern became irrelevant when the Islamic State destroyed it in 2017 in an effort to prevent the advancing Iraqi army from seizing it.
8. Leaning Tower of Suurhusen, Suurhusen, Germany
The Leaning Tower of Suurhusen holds the Guinness World Record for the most unintentionally tilted building in the world, with a tilt of 5.19 degrees. In comparison, the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans at 3.99 degrees. This tower is part of a church, which is attached to it.
Constructed during the Middle Ages in a swampy area, the builders buried oak trees in the ground before laying the foundation of the structure. For centuries, the building stood firm without leaning. However, when the surrounding land was drained in the 18th century, the oak trees dried out, leading to the tower's tilt.
By the 1970s, the tower had become so unstable that many feared it would collapse. The government attempted to demolish it, but the local community intervened and prevented the destruction. Since then, the locals have taken responsibility for maintaining the tower.
The church and tower no longer serve as places of worship and are instead preserved as tourist attractions. Visitors are not allowed to enter the church or climb the tower, nor can they get too close. A safety zone has been established around the structure to protect people in case it eventually falls.
7. Leaning Tower of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
Standing at 80 meters (262 ft), the Leaning Tower of Zaragoza began to tilt immediately after its construction in 1504. It is believed that the rushed construction process and compromised quality of materials caused the tilt. Despite this, the Leaning Tower of Zaragoza gained popularity, rivaling the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Over time, the tilt of the tower became more pronounced. At one point, there were concerns that it might collapse. In 1878, the Zaragoza city council tried to reduce the slant by removing the tower's spire, but this had no effect, and the tower continued to lean. Eventually, in 1892, the city council decided to demolish the tower, much to the sorrow of the locals.
6. The Leaning Tower of Bad Frankenhausen, Bad Frankenhausen, Germany
The Leaning Tower of Bad Frankenhausen is a 56-meter-tall (183 ft) church steeple that was on the brink of collapse. Despite several maintenance efforts, the steeple leans at 4.8 degrees, a greater tilt than that of the Tower of Pisa. The tilt of the church steeple has been observed since at least 1640.
The tilt of the tower is attributed to the unique underground geography of Bad Frankenhausen. Around 250 million years ago, this area was submerged in ocean water. When the water receded, it left behind salt deposits that were later buried by earth over millions of years. About 95 million years ago, the Kyffhauser hills began to rise, with Bad Frankenhausen located on the southern slope of this range.
As the hills began to rise, the land cracked, allowing water to seep into the ground. This water slowly washed away the buried salt, weakening the land above and creating large underground voids.
With growing concerns about the potential collapse of both the leaning tower and its attached church, the city council of Bad Frankenhausen took ownership of the structure. A federal initiative will now provide funds to help stabilize the tower.
5. The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, Teluk Intan, Malaysia
The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan was constructed in 1885. Originally intended as a water tank to store drinking water for the residents of Teluk Intan, it later also became a clock tower when a large clock, used by the town’s timekeeper, was added after its completion.
The construction of the tower was funded by the residents of Teluk Intan. Its design showcases a distinct Chinese influence, as the engineer responsible for the building and most of the town's inhabitants at the time were of Chinese descent.
The tower was made from wood and brick, materials that were insufficient to support the weight of the water tank. Additionally, the ground beneath was unusually soft for such a heavy structure, leading to a leftward tilt in the tower.
4. Due Torri, Bologna, Italy
Due Torri (“Two Towers”) consists of two leaning towers, Asinelli and Garisenda. Both towers have a steeper tilt than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In fact, Garisenda Tower is known for having the most significant tilt of any tower in Italy.
The two towers were constructed in the 12th century, with their names derived from the families who commissioned and financed their building. Although originally designed for military defense, they also served as symbols of the wealth of the families who owned them.
During this period, Bologna was politically divided between two factions: the Guelphs, who backed the Pope, and the Ghibellines, who supported the Holy Roman Emperor. This rivalry prompted many wealthy families to construct towers to strengthen their influence, with hundreds being built, but only the Asinelli and Garisenda towers are known to have developed slants.
3. Leaning Tower of Torun, Torun, Poland
The Leaning Tower of Torun was erected as part of the city's defensive walls in the late 13th or early 14th century. The tower features three walls, with one side left open for the purpose of hoisting ammunition to the upper levels. It began to tilt during the Middle Ages.
The tilt of the tower is attributed to the sandy soil it was built upon, although various superstitions and legends have emerged about its slant. One tale suggests that God made the tower lean after the Polish astronomer Copernicus made a discovery that challenged the notion of God's existence.
A popular legend suggests that the tower was constructed by a knight who fell in love with a woman, which violated the code of knighthood. As punishment for his dishonesty, the monarchy allegedly commanded him to build a leaning tower. The tale claims that honest visitors can remain standing while leaning against the tower, whereas dishonest ones cannot maintain their balance.
The Leaning Tower of Torun was decommissioned as a city wall in the 18th century. A fourth wall was added, and the building was repurposed into a women’s prison. Over time, it also served as a gunsmith workshop and later as living quarters. Today, the building houses a pub and an office operated by the Municipal Institution of Culture.
2. Oldehove, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
The Oldehove is an unfinished, curved leaning tower. Construction began in 1529 but was halted in 1533 after the tower started to tilt. The architect, Jacob van Aken, attempted to correct the tilt by curving parts of the tower, but his efforts were in vain.
Oldehove was initially designed to stand at 120 meters (400 feet), but construction ceased at 48 meters (157 feet). A church was also planned to be attached to the tower, but it was never built. Despite its incomplete state, the tower has served various purposes, including a store, timepiece, and observation post. It is now preserved as a tourist attraction.
1. Huzhu Pagoda, Shanghai, China
The Huzhu Pagoda, built in 1079 by General Zhou Wenda, was constructed to house five Buddha statues gifted to him by Emperor Song Gaozong. The tower began to lean shortly after its completion. The tilt worsened in 1788 after a fire, caused by firecrackers set off during a fair, damaged the structure.
In the 19th century, the tilt became more pronounced when villagers, acting on rumors of hidden gold, dug a hole at the base of the tower. This created a large cavity on the opposite side of the lean, giving the structure the appearance of being gnawed on.
The tower now leans at an impressive 7.1 degrees, nearly double the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and surpassing the Leaning Tower of Suurhusen, which holds the record for the most unintentionally leaning building in the world.
Despite its dramatic tilt and the significant damage it has sustained, Huzhu Pagoda remains in good condition and poses no threat of collapse. This resilience has earned it the nickname “Won’t Topple in a 1,000 Years Ancient Tower.” The lean is attributed to the presence of two different types of soil beneath its foundation.
