Stolars' Tower in Krakow

The Carpenters' Tower, also known as the Joiners' Tower, is one of the three fully preserved towers within the city walls of Kraków. Built in the Gothic style on a square stone foundation, it features a semi-circular shape and consists of three stories. The upper part of the tower is adorned with a decorative frieze and an irregular conical roof covered with red tiles. Located on Pijarska Street, the tower is part of the Princes Czartoryski Museum and is currently used as a storage space. Although not fully accessible to tourists, its gallery facing the street can be viewed as part of a tourist route. Historically, the Carpenters' Tower served defensive purposes, protecting St. Florian's Gate and the Barbican from the west, with its defense managed by the guilds of Carpenters and Ropemakers. In the early 19th century, the tower faced the threat of demolition; however, thanks to the efforts of Professor Feliks Radwański, it was preserved. In 1817, Radwański convinced the senate of the Free City of Kraków to retain sections of the medieval defensive walls, including the Carpenters' Tower. In 1874, it was donated by the city to Prince Władysław Czartoryski as part of the Princes Czartoryski Museum. A comprehensive renovation was carried out in 2015, which included replacing the roof tiles, cleaning the walls, and refurbishing the interior. The future use of the tower depends on the museum authorities and the progress of further renovations that have been ongoing since 2010. An interesting fact is that Professor Radwański, in his appeal, emphasized not only the defensive value of the walls but also their role in protecting residents from unpleasant winds that could affect the daily lives of Kraków's inhabitants.