湘樂鎮居于湘樂河北岸臺地上,北靠宇村原,西南距(ju)寧縣城(cheng)三十五(wu)公里。這里依(yi)山旁水,自然環境優美(mei)。
湘(xiang)樂在歷(li)史上(shang)頗有名(ming)望(wang)。據(ju)史書(shu)記載(zai):遠在漢時在此置(zhi)襄(xiang)洛縣。后魏徒治于(yu)此改為(wei)襄(xiang)樂。西(xi)魏置(zhi)燕州。后周俱廢。唐屬寧州。金仍之(zhi)。元至元七(qi)年并入寧州。明設巡檢司。清為(wei)鎮。今為(wei)湘(xiang)樂公社駐(zhu)地。湘(xiang)樂古城址(zhi)建(jian)于(yu)何時,無考。目(mu)前城垣殘存。磚塔聳立于(yu)古城內(nei)的西(xi)北角。
磚塔(ta),平(ping)面(mian)(mian)(mian)呈六角形(xing)(xing),樓閣式,高(gao)七(qi)層(ceng)(ceng),頂(ding)部殘,通體(ti)高(gao)約22米(mi)(mi)。第一層(ceng)(ceng)塔(ta)身很高(gao),無臺基和基坐(zuo),越向(xiang)(xiang)上(shang)越收小。第一層(ceng)(ceng)每面(mian)(mian)(mian)寬3.76米(mi)(mi),門(men)(men)(men)向(xiang)(xiang)南,單磚券(quan)頂(ding),門(men)(men)(men)高(gao)2.22米(mi)(mi),寬1.18米(mi)(mi),進深(shen)2.06米(mi)(mi)。內辟六角形(xing)(xing)塔(ta)室,每面(mian)(mian)(mian)寬1.42米(mi)(mi)。第一層(ceng)(ceng)門(men)(men)(men)北面(mian)(mian)(mian)開券(quan)門(men)(men)(men),施(shi)龕室,門(men)(men)(men)寬0.70米(mi)(mi),寬1.65米(mi)(mi),進深(shen)0.80米(mi)(mi),龕高(gao)2米(mi)(mi),寬1.04米(mi)(mi)。各層(ceng)(ceng)塔(ta)檐每面(mian)(mian)(mian)出(chu)雙抄華拱(gong),每面(mian)(mian)(mian)斗(dou)拱(gong)五(wu)朵(duo),上(shang)承替木。在第二層(ceng)(ceng)和第三(san)層(ceng)(ceng)施(shi)平(ping)坐(zuo),平(ping)坐(zuo)下斗(dou)拱(gong)與檐下相同,平(ping)坐(zuo)上(shang)施(shi)欄桿(gan),欄板為直欞(ling)式,上(shang)施(shi)斗(dou)子蜀柱(zhu)(zhu),做八(ba)角形(xing)(xing)柱(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)頭施(shi)明顯的(de)卷剎(cha)。塔(ta)身各層(ceng)(ceng)每間隔(ge)一面(mian)(mian)(mian)設真門(men)(men)(men)或刻版(ban)門(men)(men)(men)與直欞(ling)窗(chuang),真門(men)(men)(men)為圭角形(xing)(xing)門(men)(men)(men)洞,版(ban)門(men)(men)(men)施(shi)方形(xing)(xing)門(men)(men)(men)框,雙門(men)(men)(men)半(ban)掩,門(men)(men)(men)向(xiang)(xiang)各方都(dou)有。第六層(ceng)(ceng)塔(ta)檐每面(mian)(mian)(mian)三(san)朵(duo)斗(dou)拱(gong),與他(ta)層(ceng)(ceng)不同。