City Walls of Ząbkowice Śląskie

Ząbkowice Śląskie gained its defences in two stages: the first walls, partly timber-and-earth and partly of rough stone, were raised at the end of the 13th century, and in the 14th century, under Bolko II of Ziębice, they were considerably extended. The ring took its final shape in the 15th century under Charles I of Poděbrady, when the walls enclosed the newly built castle and were reinforced with towers.

Four gates and towers

Four gates led into the town: the Wrocław, Ziębice, Kłodzko and Świdnica gates. None of them survived, but in the northern part of town, near Grunwaldzka street, a tower with a decorative attic and the Dove Tower (Baszta Gołębia) still stand. The surviving stretches of wall date from the 15th century and run towards Prusa street.

Demolition of the defences

The end came in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1750 the outer ring was torn down, some twenty years later the moats and ramparts were filled in, and in the 19th century the inner ring was demolished. The only legible trace of the old moat is a pond in the town park.

A leaning neighbour

A few minutes' walk separates the walls from the Leaning Tower, the tallest leaning tower in Poland: it measures 34 metres, leans 2.14 metres off the vertical, and its summit is reached by 139 steps. One hypothesis describes it as the bergfried of a pre-foundation castle of the dukes of Świdnica. Every year on the second weekend of July the tower gets its own festival, the Days and Nights of the Leaning Tower.

Practical information

The walls can be viewed free of charge at any time. Grunwaldzka street, with the two towers, is the best starting point; from there the traces of the fortifications continue towards Prusa street. The market square and the Leaning Tower fit easily into the same walk.