Gothic Tower in Lublin

The Gothic Tower, also known as the Semicircular Tower, is an important monument of Gothic architecture in Lublin, built in 1341 as part of the city's defensive walls. Constructed of stone and faced with brick, it was reconstructed in the 1980s, becoming a significant element attesting to the Gothic fortifications of the Old Town. The tower held strategic importance in the defensive system, and wooden platforms allowed defenders to use the arrow slits. Although the shooting galleries, which provided access to various arrow slits, have not survived to this day, the structure itself still attracts attention with its shape and history. In the Middle Ages, each tower was under the care of a local guild—in this case, merchants, who were obligated to supply cannons and gunpowder, highlighting the tower's role in the city's defense. An interesting fact is that in the Old Polish period, thick church candles were produced inside the tower using a technique that involved hanging hemp ropes from which hot wax dripped, demonstrating the diverse historical uses of this site in Lublin. The Gothic Tower, together with a section of the fortifications, forms an important part of Lublin's cultural heritage, attracting tourists and history researchers alike.