Tower sights in Poland
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Church of St Mary Magdalene
One block east of the Rynek is the Church of St Mary Magdalene, a mighty Gothic brick building constructed during the city’s heyday in the 14th century. Its showpiece is a copy of a Romanesque portal from around 1280 on the south wall, which originally adorned the Benedictine Abbey in Ołbin, but was moved here in 1546 after the abbey was demolished. The original tympanum is on display in Wrocław’s National Museum. You can climb the 72m-high tower and cross the so-called Penance Footbridge (Mostek Pokutnik).
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Town Hall
The town's landmark is the town hall on the Rynek or, more precisely, its huge 56m-high octagonal tower, which you can climb with a ticket purchased from the museum. The tower, which looks a little like a lighthouse, was built between 1569 and 1581, except for the top, which is a Baroque addition. Its original Renaissance decoration and the unusual 24-hour clock face on its eastern side have been restored in recent years.
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Church of St Elizabeth
Just north of Hansel and Gretel is the monumental brick Church of St Elizabeth, with its 83m-high tower. You can climb the narrow stairwell with 250-plus steps to the top for a great view of Wrocław. This Gothic church went up in flames in 1976 in suspicious circumstances, and many of the furnishings, including the organ, were lost.
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Water Tower
Built in 1900 in neo-Gothic style, Giżycko’s seven-storey Water Tower supplied the city with running water until 1997. Today the tall redbrick structure houses a café and an assortment of memorabilia related to the region, but its big attraction is of course the views it provides over the town and surrounding lakes.
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Piast Tower
The only vestige of the dukes’ castle is the 33m-tall Piast Tower, a sturdy watchtower with 3m walls and foundations 6m deep. Built in the 14th century, the castle was pulled down in the 1920s to make room for office buildings. You can climb the 163 steps to the top for a panoramic view over the city.
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Town Walls & Execution Tower
Near the church are the remains of the town walls and what has become known as Execution Tower (Katownia). Biecz was allowed to pass death sentences, and there was even a corporation of executioners who appear to have taken their job pretty seriously. In the year 1614 alone, some 120 brigands were executed here.
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Barbican
Heading north out of the Old Town along Ul Nowomiejska you'll soon see the redbrick Barbican, a semicircular defensive tower topped with a decorative Renaissance parapet. It was partially dismantled in the 19th century, but reconstructed after WWII, and is now a popular spot for buskers and art sellers.
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Water Tower
The Water Tower, across the main road from the cathedral, was built in 1571 as part of one of the first water-supply systems in Europe and was used for two centuries to provide Cathedral Hill with water through oak pipes. The admission fee lets you climb to the top of the tower.
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Hyacinthus' Tower
In front of the Market Hall is the tall octagonal Hyacinthus' Tower, one of the remnants of the medieval fortifications. It was built around 1400 and, apart from its defensive role, it also served as a watchtower. Today it houses a photo shop.
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Monastery of Jasna Góra Belltower
The 106m Monastery of Jasna Góra Belltower, the tallest historic church tower in Poland, offers views over the monastery complex and the expanse of Al NMP. After falling many times over history, the current tower dates to 1906.
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Mouse Tower
The 32m-high Mouse Tower, near the Rynek, is the only remainder of the 14th-century castle built by King Kazimierz III Wielki. You can go to the top for a view over the town and lake.
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Mathematical Tower
The Mathematical Tower, in main edifice of the University of Wrocław, is topped with a sphere and decorated with allegorical figures.
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Ziębice Tower
The Ziębice Tower is a 14th-century brick tower with unusual turrets and dragon guttering.
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Leaning Tower
At the far western end of the old city walls are a few medieval granaries and the Leaning Tower.
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Tower
You can go up the Old Town Hall Tower for a fine panoramic view.
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