Defensive Tower in Olkusz

The tower in Olkusz is a reconstructed half-tower with a stretch of defensive wall, standing in a corner of the Old Town right next to St Andrew's Basilica. It is the best-preserved and most legible trace of the medieval fortifications of the "Silver Town". In fifteen minutes you can see how one of the richest mining towns of the Polish Crown was defended in the 14th–16th centuries.

The walls of Casimir the Great

According to the chronicler Jan Długosz, Olkusz was walled in stone under Casimir the Great; the walls were standing before 1366. The circuit was about 1,100 m long and enclosed more than 7 ha. The 1.7-m thick wall was built using the opus emplectum technique: an outer face of red conglomerate blocks with a core of limestone set in mortar. There were probably about 15 half-towers, open towards the town, and the towers housed the municipal arsenal.

A moat protected the town too. In the 14th century it was 5.5 m wide and 2 m deep; in the 16th century a new one was dug, 12–14 m wide and up to 4 m deep. The Kraków and Sławków gates led into town. In the 17th century mining damage – tunnels were dug right under the town – weakened the walls, and in the early 19th century most of the fortifications were demolished.

Rebuilt on original foundations

A group of local history enthusiasts rebuilt this section of wall and tower on its original foundations, finishing in 1986. The lower part in red stone shows the 14th-century defences, while the upper part in white limestone shows the 15th–16th-century heightening and roof, when the tower was closed on the town side. To the south a few metres of authentic wall survive. The only preserved tower measures about 7.5 × 6.5 m in plan.

Did you know?

• In the late 14th century Olkusz had 94 masonry houses – the royal capital Kraków had about 150.
• In 1584 the Olkusz synagogue was built on top of one of the town towers.
• The oldest image of the town arms, with a gate and a miner's pick, comes from a seal dated 1386.

Tripto tips

The tower is on ul. Basztowa, between the Market Square and the basilica; you can view the exterior at any time, free of charge. Next to it stands a statue of a miner with a sword – one stop on the Olkusz Miners' Trail, which makes a great walk with children. A few steps away, by the remains of the Sławków Gate, sits another miner holding the town's coat of arms. We found no current official information about access to the tower's interior, so do not count on going inside without checking locally.

Nearby

• St Andrew's Basilica with its organ by Hans Hummel and Jerzy Nitrowski from the early 17th century.
• Underground Olkusz beneath the Market Square, with a replica of the Miners' Silver Cross.
• The PTTK Regional Museum and the Olkusz Fire-Fighting Museum.