Rabenštejnská věž, Fortified tower in České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Rabenštejnská věž is a 16.6-metre, four-storey tower of rectangular plan on the edge of the old town, at the corner of Panská and Mlýnská streets. Its Gothic windows are original, present from the start rather than cut later, and stone armature reinforces the corners. A tall hipped roof, interrupted by three bays on two corbels, hides a late-Gothic roof truss.

The structure was built between the 14th and 15th centuries as part of the city walls and later served as a prison until the early 19th century. Its changing functions reveal how the tower's role in the city evolved over several hundred years.

The tower is named after Wolfgang Rabenstein, a Dominican monastery monk, and now houses a cultural center with gallery and design shop run by a local arts organization. Visitors can explore contemporary art exhibitions and local crafts on display here.

The tower stands at the corner of Panská and Mlýnská streets, between the former inner and outer town walls. The area beneath it was converted from a parking lot into a small square used for concerts and screenings. The tower is open as a cultural centre with a gallery and design shop; check opening times before visiting.

In the 19th century, municipal physicians used the tower twice weekly for examinations, a surprising and lesser-known function that reveals an unexpected side of local administration at that time. This medical purpose during its prison years shows how the building served multiple practical needs of the city.