Piaskowa Tower in Byczyna

Piaskowa (Sand) Tower, also called the South Tower, closes off from the south one of the best-preserved rings of town walls in Poland. Inside, the vault over a former starvation dungeon has survived, and during the 2023–2024 restoration the tower was raised by 1.10 m to 23 metres, gaining a terrace that is due to open to visitors.

History and architecture

According to the Byczyna Town Office's 2024 description, the tower was built in the 14th century on a stone foundation, on the site of an older structure. An earlier municipal description says it was completed only in the 16th century, later than the rest of the defences, so the dating is not settled. The brick tower stands on a rectangular plan of 6.34 × 5.82 m, laid in Gothic bond with clinker bricks. It has two storeys, projects slightly in front of the wall face with an offset halfway up, and has many arrow slits and windows with flattened arches.

On the east and west facades, in line with the wall, you can see the toothing of the parapet of the old crenellation. This suggests the original walls may have been up to 7 metres high. Research in 2009–2010 (Dr Jerzy Romanow, Lech Stanisz) revealed the profile of the moat next to the tower: its bottom lay 3 metres below the wall foundation, and at this point it was an artificial dry moat.

Walls worth walking around

The tower is part of the fortifications entered in the heritage register in 1950, together with the Polish Gate Tower and the German Gate Tower. The walls encircle the old town in an elliptical ring 912.5 m long, 4.5–6 m high and up to 1.9 m thick. As early as the late 19th century the conservator of the Province of Silesia regarded them as the best-preserved fortifications in the region.

Tripto tips

• The tower is seen from outside – best from ul. Wałowa, where it appears together with the wall. The terrace at the top had not yet opened (as of October 2026).
• You can, however, climb the Polish Tower (May–October, ticket PLN 10) and visit the viewpoint in the town hall tower.
• A walk around the whole ring of walls with both gates takes about an hour.