Straw Tower

The Straw Tower, also known as Strohturm, is a historic, octagonal defensive tower located in the Main Town of Gdańsk. It was built in the second half of the 14th century from brick to strengthen the defense of the western fortifications of medieval Gdańsk. Its name may come from the original thatched roof covering, which was later replaced with tiles. As a result of a reconstruction in the first half of the 15th century, it acquired its distinctive conical hipped roof. The Prussian wall has a thickness of up to 4 meters in the lower section, and the lowest floor housed a storage room, indicating its original purpose as a redoubt for prolonged and independent defense. In later years, the tower also served as a gunpowder magazine. After being damaged in 1945, which affected the upper parts of the walls and the roof, the tower was rebuilt in 1950. Today, it neighbors the Great Armory and houses rooms of the Academy of Fine Arts, connecting its architectural significance with the contemporary cultural life of Gdańsk. An interesting feature is the gallery connecting the tower to the Great Armory, which has become a point of interest on the city's tourist map.