The princely tower in Rakowice Wielkie

The Prince's Tower in Rakowice Wielkie is a historic residential knight's tower, dating back to the 15th or 16th century. Built on a nearly square plan, it was constructed using local rough sandstone and stone blocks, and topped with a steep, gabled roof. A stone portal with a semicircular arch led to a large ground-floor room, from which a rectangular hallway and stone stairs provided access to the first floor. The upper floors had a similar layout, though the third floor contained living quarters and a chamber with a metal vessel for waste disposal. The tower stood near the Rakówka stream in Lower Silesia, about 500 meters north of the town tower, surrounded by railway tracks. It served as an important defensive structure in the region but gradually fell into ruin, largely due to conservation neglect, which led to the collapse of the roof in the 1960s and the entire structure in the 1970s. Today, the tower is reduced to its ground-floor walls, heavily overgrown with vegetation. An interesting aspect of its history is that it survived World War II intact. It belonged to the manager of the manor farm in Rakowice, despite being owned by the knight Hans Reussner, and later passed into the hands of minor feudal lords. Despite its "princely" name, its primary function was residential, and the entire structure reflects medieval building styles and techniques. Despite its ruined state, the tower continues to attract visitors interested in the rich history and architecture of the area, showcasing the evolution of fortifications and residential buildings in Lower Silesia.