湘樂鎮居于湘樂河北岸臺地上,北靠(kao)宇村原,西南距(ju)寧縣城三十五公里(li)。這里(li)依山旁水(shui),自然環境優美。
湘樂在(zai)歷史(shi)上頗有名望(wang)。據(ju)史(shi)書(shu)記載:遠在(zai)漢時(shi)在(zai)此置襄(xiang)洛縣。后魏徒治于此改為(wei)(wei)襄(xiang)樂。西(xi)魏置燕州(zhou)。后周俱廢。唐(tang)屬寧(ning)州(zhou)。金仍(reng)之(zhi)。元(yuan)至元(yuan)七年并(bing)入寧(ning)州(zhou)。明設巡檢司。清為(wei)(wei)鎮。今為(wei)(wei)湘樂公(gong)社(she)駐地。湘樂古城址建(jian)于何時(shi),無考(kao)。目前(qian)城垣(yuan)殘存。磚塔聳(song)立于古城內的西(xi)北角。
磚(zhuan)塔,平(ping)面(mian)(mian)呈六(liu)角(jiao)形(xing),樓閣(ge)式,高七層(ceng)(ceng),頂(ding)部(bu)殘,通體高約(yue)22米(mi)(mi)(mi)。第一層(ceng)(ceng)塔身很高,無臺基(ji)和基(ji)坐,越向上越收小。第一層(ceng)(ceng)每面(mian)(mian)寬3.76米(mi)(mi)(mi),門(men)向南(nan),單(dan)磚(zhuan)券(quan)頂(ding),門(men)高2.22米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬1.18米(mi)(mi)(mi),進深2.06米(mi)(mi)(mi)。內辟六(liu)角(jiao)形(xing)塔室,每面(mian)(mian)寬1.42米(mi)(mi)(mi)。第一層(ceng)(ceng)門(men)北(bei)面(mian)(mian)開(kai)券(quan)門(men),施龕室,門(men)寬0.70米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬1.65米(mi)(mi)(mi),進深0.80米(mi)(mi)(mi),龕高2米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬1.04米(mi)(mi)(mi)。各層(ceng)(ceng)塔檐每面(mian)(mian)出雙(shuang)抄華拱(gong),每面(mian)(mian)斗(dou)拱(gong)五朵(duo),上承替(ti)木。在第二層(ceng)(ceng)和第三(san)層(ceng)(ceng)施平(ping)坐,平(ping)坐下(xia)斗(dou)拱(gong)與(yu)檐下(xia)相同,平(ping)坐上施欄(lan)桿,欄(lan)板為直(zhi)欞(ling)式,上施斗(dou)子蜀(shu)柱,做八角(jiao)形(xing)柱,柱頭施明顯(xian)的卷剎。塔身各層(ceng)(ceng)每間隔一面(mian)(mian)設真(zhen)門(men)或刻(ke)版門(men)與(yu)直(zhi)欞(ling)窗(chuang),真(zhen)門(men)為圭角(jiao)形(xing)門(men)洞,版門(men)施方形(xing)門(men)框(kuang),雙(shuang)門(men)半掩,門(men)向各方都有。第六(liu)層(ceng)(ceng)塔檐每面(mian)(mian)三(san)朵(duo)斗(dou)拱(gong),與(yu)他層(ceng)(ceng)不同。