Exceptional Swiss professions: Munot Guard Karola Lüthi
The Munot guard has a long tradition in the small town of Schaffhausen. Built in the 16th century, the Munot fortress that proudly overlooks the city on the Rhine was supposed to protect the city from military advances. A first mention of a guard can even be traced back to the 14th century. In the early years, the fortress guard was in charge of spotting incoming ships and looking out for fires which were a common occurrence. In modern days, the guard’s main responsibility is to ring the Munot bell, a ritual that has existed since 1589. Karola Lüthi, Schaffhausen’s current and first-ever female Munot guard gives a glimpse into her exceptional profession.
Karola Lüthi, a trained cook, had thought 20 years ago that this profession might be a career for her. However, at that time it would have been inconceivable for a woman to take on this task. In 2017 the job became available and was advertised in the local press. Karola took her chances, applied for the job, and had the honor to become the first woman to fill this position. In her duty as Munot guard she used her position to support women across the country. Last year, Karola chose not to ring the bell as part of the Swiss women’s strike for equal rights. It was the first time in centuries that the Munot bell was silent. “That caused a huge stir,” she says.
From Karola we learn that a munot guard should be communicative and speak many languages. Especially during the summer months, many tourists from all over the world visit Schaffhausen to take a closer look at the fortress. For Karola this means little free time. She has to be present at various events and regularly serve as a tour guide providing historical background information to visitors who come to see the fortress. The job is also quite hands on and not as romantic as people imagine. For example, the deer that freely roam beneath the fortress have to be looked after, also the cleaning of the fortress is a huge undertaking.
Residents and visitors can enjoy the bell as it is rung by hand each evening at 9pm for five minutes. Karola performs this task with great pride even though it comes at a high price. Arranging time off can be tricky because the bell rings seven days a week. Sometimes Karola has to leave social gatherings early while friends are still celebrating, which is especially difficult on beautiful summer evenings. And the answer to her most often asked question: Yes, the tower actually is her home. Pretty cool, right?!
This article is part of a social media series presenting exceptional Swiss professions created by the Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta. Next week, read about a very modern and interesting job in the esports & gaming industry.
Watch the video of Karola Lüthi ringing the Munot bell on our Instagram channel @swisscgatlanta!
Learn more about the Munot fortress: www.munot.ch
