When you think of a building that leans, the Leaning Tower of Pisa instantly pops into mind. Yet the world is peppered with a handful of structures that tilt even more dramatically—each with its own quirky backstory. In this roundup we present the 10 naturally leaning towers that out‑tilt the Italian icon, proving that gravity isn’t always the boss.
10 Naturally Leaning Wonders Around the World
10 Minaret Of Jam: Ghor, Afghanistan
Constructed in 1194, this 65‑metre‑high (213 ft) minaret sports a modest 3.47‑degree slant—still less than Pisa’s famous lean—but it towers nine metres (30 ft) above the Italian structure, and it predates Pisa by more than a century.
The Ghurid empire, which stretched from modern‑day Iran to Bengal, commissioned the tower. Their capital, Firozkoh—often translated as “Turquoise Mountain”—has vanished from the map, yet scholars believe it once hovered near the minaret’s present site.
The tilt stems from a water‑logged foundation. Two mountain gorges converge nearby, leaving the ground only faintly level and unable to support the massive stone column.
Reaching the minaret is an adventure in itself: a twelve‑hour trek over rugged tracks, once plagued by bandits and now overseen by the Taliban. Seasonal floods further complicate visits, keeping the monument relatively obscure.
9 Nuri: Mosul, Iraq
The Great Mosque of al‑Nuri, erected in 1172 at the behest of Nur al‑Din Mahmoud Zangi, once dominated Mosul’s skyline. Zangi, a fervent Sunni leader, is famed for his campaigns against Crusader forces, notably the capture of Damascus.
Although the original mosque fell to time, its 45‑metre‑high (150 ft) minaret—known locally as al‑Hadba, or “the humpback”—still stands. Observers have recorded its lean since the 14th century, but the exact moment it began to tilt remains a mystery.
Folklore claims the minaret tipped when the Prophet Muhammad flew overhead en route to heaven—an obviously anachronistic tale, as Muhammad died centuries before the tower’s construction. More plausible explanations point to relentless winds, weak plaster binding the bricks, or uneven solar heating on one side.
During the Iran‑Iraq War, bombings damaged underground pipes, allowing sewage to seep into the soil and further destabilise the foundation, worsening the tilt.
UNESCO warned in 2012 that the structure faced imminent collapse, a prophecy that was abruptly fulfilled when ISIS demolished the minaret in 2017 to impede advancing Iraqi forces.
8 Leaning Tower Of Suurhusen: Suurhusen, Germany
This quirky spire holds the Guinness World Record for the most unintentionally leaning building on the planet, tilting a striking 5.19 degrees—well beyond Pisa’s 3.99‑degree lean. The tower forms part of a medieval church, perched in the low‑lying, swampy terrain of Suurhusen.
Builders of the Middle Ages anchored the foundation by burying oak trees in the soft earth. For centuries the structure remained perfectly upright. When the surrounding marshes were drained in the 18th century, the oak trunks dried out, shrinking and causing the tower to tip.
By the 1970s, engineers feared a catastrophic collapse. Government officials even floated demolition plans, but local residents rallied fiercely, preserving the tower. Since then, the community has taken stewardship, maintaining the tower as a heritage attraction.
Today, the church and its leaning counterpart are closed to interior visits. A safety perimeter surrounds the tower to keep onlookers at a safe distance, ensuring that even if the structure were to fall, no one would be harmed.
7 Leaning Tower Of Zaragoza: Zaragoza, Spain
Rising 80 metres (262 ft) into the Aragonese sky, the Tower of Zaragoza tilted immediately after its 1504 completion. Historians suspect a rushed construction schedule compromised the tower’s structural integrity, prompting an early lean.
The slant grew over the centuries, sparking fears of a sudden collapse. In 1878, city officials attempted to correct the angle by removing the tower’s spire, but the effort proved futile, and the lean persisted.
Eventually, the council opted for demolition in 1892, a decision that disappointed locals who had grown attached to the iconic silhouette.
6 The Leaning Tower Of Bad Frankenhausen: Bad Frankenhausen, Germany
Standing 56 metres (183 ft) tall, this church steeple leans at a pronounced 4.8 degrees—surpassing Pisa’s tilt. Records indicate the slant has been evident since at least 1640, and the tower has long teetered on the brink of collapse.
The underlying cause lies deep in the region’s geological past. Roughly 250 million years ago, Bad Frankenhausen lay beneath an ocean. As waters receded, thick salt deposits formed, later buried beneath layers of earth. Around 95 million years ago, the Kyffhäuser hills rose, placing the town on the southern slope of this uplift.
Over time, the hills fractured, allowing water to infiltrate and dissolve the buried salt. This process created cavernous voids beneath the surface, eroding the ground’s stability and prompting the tower’s tilt.
Fearing an imminent collapse, the municipal council seized ownership of the structure. A federal stabilization program now funds extensive reinforcement work to safeguard the leaning landmark.
5 The Leaning Tower Of Teluk Intan: Teluk Intan, Malaysia
Erected in 1885, the Teluk Intan tower originally functioned as a water reservoir for the town’s residents. Shortly after, a massive clock—operated by the local timekeeper—was affixed, converting the structure into a dual‑purpose clock tower.
The tower’s funding came directly from the townspeople. Its architectural style bears a distinct Chinese influence, reflecting the heritage of the chief engineer and the majority of the community at that time.
Built from a combination of wood and brick, the tower’s materials proved insufficient to support the heavy water tank. Coupled with exceptionally soft soil, these factors induced a persistent left‑ward lean that remains visible today.
4 Due Torri: Bologna, Italy
“Due Torri,” meaning “Two Towers,” refers to the Asinelli and Garisenda towers, both of which tilt more sharply than Pisa’s famous structure. Garisenda even claims the title of Italy’s most inclined tower.
These stone giants sprang up in the 12th century, financed by rival noble families eager to showcase wealth and power. While primarily defensive in purpose, the towers also served as status symbols during a period of intense civic rivalry.
At the time, Bologna was split between the Guelphs—supporters of the Pope—and the Ghibellines—champions of the Holy Roman Emperor. This political schism spurred a building frenzy, with dozens of families erecting towers to cement their dominance. Ultimately, only Asinelli and Garisenda survived, each boasting a dramatic lean.
3 Huzhu Pagoda: Shanghai, China
Commissioned in 1079 by General Zhou Wenda, the Huzhu Pagoda was built to house five Buddha statues gifted by Emperor Song Gaozong. The structure began to tilt shortly after its completion, a problem that intensified after a 1788 fire sparked by celebratory firecrackers.
In the 19th century, a wave of local superstition prompted villagers to dig a hole at the pagoda’s base, convinced that buried gold lay beneath. The excavation left a conspicuous bite‑shaped void on the side opposite the lean, further destabilising the edifice.
Today, the pagoda leans a dramatic 7.1 degrees—almost double Pisa’s angle and surpassing Suurhusen’s record. Despite its steep slant and centuries of damage, meticulous conservation work has ensured the tower remains stable, earning it the nickname “Won’t Topple in a 1,000‑Year‑Old Ancient Tower.”
The prevailing theory attributes the tilt to a dual‑layered soil foundation: one stratum of soft clay beneath a firmer sand layer, creating uneven settlement that nudged the pagoda off‑center.
2 Oldehove: Leeuwarden, Netherlands
The Oldehove began construction in 1529, intended as a soaring, curved bell tower attached to a grand church. By 1533, the foundation gave way, and the tower started to tilt, prompting builders to abandon the project entirely.
Jacob van Aken, the original architect, attempted a clever fix: he introduced a subtle curvature to counteract the lean. Unfortunately, the technique failed, and the tower remained stubbornly askew.
Originally envisioned to reach a staggering 120 metres (400 ft), the tower was halted at just 48 metres (157 ft). Although the accompanying church never materialised, the Oldehove found new life as a storehouse, a time‑keeping device, and an observation post. Today, it serves as a beloved tourist attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness its quirky tilt.
1 Leaning Tower Of Torun: Torun, Poland
Constructed around the turn of the 14th century as part of Torun’s defensive city walls, this tower originally featured three walls, leaving one side open to facilitate the hoisting of ammunition to the upper levels.
The lean originates from the tower’s foundation on soft, sandy soil. Over the centuries, the slope has inspired a wealth of folklore, including a tale that God tipped the tower after the famed astronomer Copernicus challenged religious doctrine.
Another legend tells of a remorseful knight who, after falling in love with a forbidden maiden, was sentenced by the monarchy to build a leaning tower as punishment for his dishonour. Supposedly, honest visitors who press their backs and legs against the tower can remain upright, while dishonest ones find themselves wobbling.
In the 18th century, the tower’s defensive role ended, and a fourth wall was added, converting the structure into a women’s prison. Subsequent centuries saw it serve as a gunsmith’s workshop and later as residential quarters. Today, the tower houses a lively pub and an office for the Municipal Institution of Culture, preserving its historic charm.