Clock Tower in Przemyśl

The clock tower in Przemyśl, located at 3 Władycze Street, was built between 1775 and 1777, funded by the Greek Catholic Bishop Atanazy Szeptycki, as a bell tower for the future Greek Catholic cathedral. The cathedral was intended to replace an earlier 16th-century church that stood on the site of what is now Primary School No. 11. After the First Partition of Poland, construction of the cathedral began with financial support promised by Empress Maria Theresa of Habsburg. Unfortunately, after her death, the project was abandoned, and only the bell tower was completed, reaching a height of 34 meters. It featured an observation gallery and a tower clock, which led to its current name. Over time, the tower began to serve as a watchtower for the fire brigade and was partially destroyed in 1850 due to a fire that ruined its late Baroque spire. It underwent renovations in 1925, 1959–1960, and 1989–1990. Since 1996, the tower has housed the Museum of Bells and Pipes, a branch of the National Museum of the Przemyśl Land. The building was entered into the register of historical monuments on June 6, 1983, under number A-589. Architecturally, it is an advanced example of late Baroque, and its varied functions throughout the city's history highlight its cultural significance. Interestingly, despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the cathedral's construction, the tower has survived as an important part of Przemyśl's heritage.