Ziębicka Tower in Nysa

The Ziębicka Tower, also known as the Ziębice Gate Tower, is one of two preserved medieval gate towers in Nysa, built in the mid-14th century during the reign of Bishop Przecław of Pogorzela. It is part of the remnants of the former defensive walls, which included four gates and 28 bastions. The town walls of Nysa, erected in 1350, were larger than those preserved in nearby Paczków and surrounded the old town, reinforced with oriels and gate bastions. The tower, a quadrangular Gothic structure, has retained its stylistic features over time, though it was partially rebuilt in the 17th century. In the 19th century, sections of the town walls were dismantled, leaving the tower standing in isolation and now serving as a viewpoint offering panoramic views of Nysa. Architecturally, the tower consists of four stories, constructed of brick in the Polish bond pattern with a decorative design. It features an ornamental crenellation and a masonry gallery. An interesting detail is the remnants of wooden beams on the walls, which were used as scaffolding during construction. The original entrance to the tower was located at the level of the second story, while the current ground-level entrance dates from a later period. Above it, there is a Renaissance-era lion statue, allegedly dating back to the 16th century, whose history is linked to a military expedition of Nysa townspeople to Ziębice in 1489. The Ziębicka Tower is not only an important landmark in Nysa’s landscape but also a testament to the region’s rich history and architecture.