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ul. Piastowska 14, Opole
The Piast Tower is the most recognisable monument in Opole and at the same time the last surviving part of the former castle of the Piast dukes. It stands on Pasieka Island, a few minutes' walk from Opole's market square, and its silhouette has long served as the town's informal emblem.
The tower was raised at the beginning of the 14th century as a keep, the last line of defence of the castle of the dukes of Opole. It was built of brick on a massive stone foundation, and the walls in its lower part measured around three metres in thickness. The entrance led through an opening set high above ground level, reached by a ladder; inside there were, among other things, a dungeon, a chamber and a guardroom.
In the 20th century the castle was declared useless and costly to maintain, so a decision was taken to demolish it. Thanks to the protests of the Polish inhabitants of Opole and activists of the Union of Poles in Germany, at least the tower was saved. After a thorough renovation the building was reopened to visitors.
The interior houses a small exhibition devoted to the history of Opole, the Opole Piasts and the building itself. The main reward, however, is the terrace at the top: from there you can see the old town, the channel of the Oder, the amphitheatre and a wide panorama of the city. The climb up the stairs is short but steep.
A visit takes about half an hour, so it fits easily into a walk around town. The tower works well as a starting point for sightseeing — the paths and greenery of Pasieka Island stretch all around, and on the other side of the canal the market square with the town hall and its townhouses awaits.
