Gliwice Radio Tower
The Gliwice Radio Tower is a wooden lattice structure in the Szobiszowice district, rising over 110 meters (360 feet) high and making it one of Europe's tallest wooden structures. Built from Siberian larch and brass connectors, the tower features four platforms at varying heights and displays a distinctive open framework of rough wooden beams.
The tower was constructed between August 1934 and December 1935 by the German state postal service and served broadcasting purposes during World War II. In 1939, it was the site of a staged attack where German forces faked a Polish assault to justify invading Poland. After 1945, it became part of Polish radio service and later assisted in jamming Western broadcasts during the Cold War.
Locals sometimes call the tower the 'Silesian Eiffel Tower' because of its distinctive shape. It has become part of the region's identity, representing resilience and the engineering skills of an earlier era.
The tower stands in a quiet park open to visitors year-round with information boards explaining the radio station's history. The surrounding area is ideal for walks, allowing you to view the structure from different angles, particularly at sunset when the wooden beams glow warmly.
The tower was the site of a 1939 staged attack used as justification for invading Poland, an event that gives it historical weight beyond its engineering. A scale model exists in a local train park, helping visitors understand both its engineering and the significance of this site.
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