Fortifications

Defensive Walls in Racibórz

Racibórz was surrounded by walls earlier than most towns of Upper Silesia: the first documented mention comes from 1299, when Duke Przemysław of Racibórz ordered the burgrave to build defensive walls. The circuit, about 1.8 kilometres long, enclosed twenty hectares of the town.

From timber to brick

The earliest fortifications, already in the 13th century, consisted of a moat, wooden barriers and gates. In the 14th century the walls were extended and surrounded by a moat about 3.7 metres deep. In the 17th century nine bastions reinforced them; the walls survived up to 9 metres high in places. At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries the circuit began to be dismantled: in 1818 the Great Gate was demolished, and in 1828 the collapsing Oder Gate was taken down. Today you can see wall fragments at Długosz Square, on Basztowa Street and near the Piast Castle.

The Prison Bastion

The most characteristic relic is the Renaissance Prison Bastion, built around 1574 after a town fire. Originally open towards the town, it now has four walls, a strongly moulded cornice, an attic with keyhole loopholes and four corner turrets. It also served as a prison — detainees were held in a "cold room" lined with straw. It was renovated in 1958 and 1994.

The bastion in the town's emblem

The image of the bastion entered the logo of Racibórz, and on 7 May 2007 the National Bank of Poland issued a commemorative PLN 2 coin with this motif — the town thereby joined the 32 historic towns of Poland.