St. Hyacinth Tower in Gdańsk, Gothic defense tower in Gdańsk, Poland
St. Hyacinth Tower is an octagonal brick structure that rises about 36 meters high with eight levels featuring firing positions and defensive openings. The base walls reach about 2.5 meters thick and are reinforced with brick arcades supported by stone consoles.
The tower was built around 1400 as part of the medieval fortification and protected the northwestern corner of the city walls. It served this defensive role until the middle of the 1500s.
The tower takes its name from Saint Hyacinth Odrowąż, who founded the Dominican monastery in the city. This connection links the structure to the religious life that once surrounded it.
The structure is located at the northwestern corner of the Old Town and is easily visible from outside, allowing visitors to observe its architecture and defensive features. The underground storage areas are not accessible to the public.
The locals called the tower 'Kiek in de Kök', a Dutch phrase meaning guards could peer into the kitchens of the nearby Dominican monastery from their posts. This nickname reveals how the watchers mixed practical surveillance with everyday observation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
