湘樂鎮(zhen)居(ju)于湘樂河北岸臺地(di)上,北靠宇村原,西南距寧(ning)縣城三十五公里。這里依山旁水(shui),自然環境優美。
湘樂(le)在(zai)(zai)歷史上頗有名(ming)望。據(ju)史書記載:遠(yuan)在(zai)(zai)漢時在(zai)(zai)此置襄洛(luo)縣。后魏徒治于(yu)(yu)此改為襄樂(le)。西(xi)魏置燕州。后周俱廢。唐屬寧(ning)州。金仍之(zhi)。元(yuan)至(zhi)元(yuan)七年并入寧(ning)州。明設巡檢司。清為鎮。今為湘樂(le)公(gong)社駐(zhu)地(di)。湘樂(le)古城(cheng)址建于(yu)(yu)何時,無(wu)考。目前城(cheng)垣殘存。磚塔聳(song)立于(yu)(yu)古城(cheng)內的西(xi)北角。
磚(zhuan)塔,平(ping)(ping)面(mian)(mian)(mian)呈六角(jiao)形(xing),樓閣式,高(gao)七層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),頂(ding)部殘,通體(ti)高(gao)約22米(mi)。第一(yi)(yi)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)塔身很(hen)高(gao),無臺基和(he)基坐(zuo),越(yue)向(xiang)(xiang)上越(yue)收小。第一(yi)(yi)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)每面(mian)(mian)(mian)寬3.76米(mi),門(men)向(xiang)(xiang)南,單磚(zhuan)券頂(ding),門(men)高(gao)2.22米(mi),寬1.18米(mi),進(jin)深(shen)(shen)2.06米(mi)。內辟(pi)六角(jiao)形(xing)塔室(shi),每面(mian)(mian)(mian)寬1.42米(mi)。第一(yi)(yi)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)門(men)北面(mian)(mian)(mian)開券門(men),施(shi)(shi)龕室(shi),門(men)寬0.70米(mi),寬1.65米(mi),進(jin)深(shen)(shen)0.80米(mi),龕高(gao)2米(mi),寬1.04米(mi)。各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)塔檐每面(mian)(mian)(mian)出雙(shuang)(shuang)抄華拱(gong),每面(mian)(mian)(mian)斗(dou)拱(gong)五(wu)朵(duo),上承替(ti)木。在(zai)第二層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)和(he)第三(san)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)施(shi)(shi)平(ping)(ping)坐(zuo),平(ping)(ping)坐(zuo)下(xia)斗(dou)拱(gong)與檐下(xia)相同(tong)(tong),平(ping)(ping)坐(zuo)上施(shi)(shi)欄桿,欄板為(wei)直(zhi)欞式,上施(shi)(shi)斗(dou)子蜀柱,做八角(jiao)形(xing)柱,柱頭施(shi)(shi)明顯(xian)的卷剎。塔身各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)每間隔一(yi)(yi)面(mian)(mian)(mian)設真(zhen)門(men)或刻(ke)版門(men)與直(zhi)欞窗,真(zhen)門(men)為(wei)圭角(jiao)形(xing)門(men)洞,版門(men)施(shi)(shi)方形(xing)門(men)框(kuang),雙(shuang)(shuang)門(men)半(ban)掩,門(men)向(xiang)(xiang)各(ge)方都有。第六層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)塔檐每面(mian)(mian)(mian)三(san)朵(duo)斗(dou)拱(gong),與他層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)不同(tong)(tong)。