Graduation towers of Ciechocinek, Wooden brine graduation towers in Ciechocinek, Poland
The graduation towers of Ciechocinek are three large wooden structures arranged in a horseshoe layout, extending more than 1700 meters in total length. Each structure rises 15.8 meters tall and is packed with blackthorn branches through which salty water trickles continuously.
Work on the first two towers started in 1824 under the direction of Professor Jakub Graff from the Mining Academy in Kielce. The third tower was added later to complete the complex.
The blackthorn branches turn white from the salt crust that forms as brine flows over them day after day. Visitors walk along the base of the structures and breathe the salty air released by the constant dripping water.
The site is open daily, though visiting hours change with the seasons. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as the ground around the towers can be wet and slippery from the dripping brine.
More than 7000 oak piles were driven deep into the ground to support the weight of the pine and spruce frames filled with blackthorn. This foundation method was chosen to keep the heavy structures stable over many decades.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
