The church tower

The present tower recreates the structure designed by Józef Karsznicki for the church built after the fire of 1777. The earlier baroque church had two towers; its replacement had one, above the organ gallery. The reconstruction therefore follows this later tower rather than those erected by Abbot Sierakowski in the 17th century.

In 1831, Prince Adam Czartoryski climbed the bell tower with Polish officers. They carved an inscription praying for their dying homeland. Austrian troops destroyed the tower in 1914, during the First World War. The church’s earlier organ also burned when the tower was blown up.

Reconstruction took place in 2013-2014, following Władysław Markulis’s design and using old engravings and photographs. The rebuilt tower is approximately 52 metres tall. Its stone shaft is crowned by a copper-clad steel spire. Steel stairs inside lead to a viewing terrace. The reconstruction used 660 tonnes of finished stone components. Furmanek Renewal of Daleszyce carried out the work, and the completion of the tower in 2014 was marked by a blessing ceremony.

From 1 May to 31 October, the viewing tower is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays from 09:00 to 18:00. During winter, from November to the end of April, the attraction is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Plan your visit before the attraction closes. The monastery itself closes at around 20:00 from May to October and at around 18:30 in winter; these times do not apply to this attraction.