Płock Promenade and Pier

The Płock pier is a 358 m steel walkway that, instead of running straight out into the Vistula, curves along the bank. According to the city, it is the only structure of its kind in Poland. From the deck you look up at the escarpment with Cathedral Hill (Wzgórze Tumskie), the cathedral and the castle, and at the far end stands a round, glass-walled café.

Why it runs parallel to the bank

This layout protects the structure from drifting ice and gives walkers a panorama of the river escarpment, including the amphitheatre built on its slope. The pier joins the riverside boulevard at its eastern end, curves westwards and encloses the basin of a marina planned for about 100 yachts. The entrance faces the Władysław Broniewski Steps, which lead down the escarpment from the poet's monument on Kościuszki Street straight to the boulevard.

How it was built

The deck is 5.3 m wide, widening to 15.3 m at the pavilion at the end. Its steel girders are suspended from 20 pylons about 4.7 m high, set roughly 20 m apart in a single row along the centre. The pylons stand on bored piles 1.2 m in diameter and about 24 m long – drilled in the river current from floating barges, the most difficult stage of construction. The round catering pavilion has about 173 m² of floor space and glass walls on an aluminium frame.

A short history

The pier was built between March and December 2010 and opened on 25 June 2011; it cost about PLN 17 million. As early as October 2011 some of the piles sank and shifted, so the building inspectorate banned its use. After repairs it reopened in May 2012.

Tripto tips

Access to the pier and the boulevard is free. The pier is wheelchair-accessible and the boulevard below the escarpment is flat. Allow 30–60 minutes for a stroll along the pier and the riverside. The Broniewski Steps take you to the top of the escarpment in a few minutes, so it is easy to combine the walk with a visit to Cathedral Hill. In winter and at high water, check that the pier is open.