Maiden Tower

The Maiden Tower (Baszta Panieńska), also called the Seven Cloaks Tower, stands at Panieńska 47 in Szczecin, near the Oder, at the foot of the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes. It is a remnant of the Gothic fortifications of the 14th century and one of the recognisable symbols of the city.

From the fortifications of medieval Szczecin

The tower took its name from the Maiden Gate of 1307, which led to a Cistercian nuns' convent of 1243. The walls of medieval Szczecin were 2,510 m long, including 610 m along the Oder, with four main gates and several dozen towers and half-towers. In the 15th century the gates were rebuilt, with foregates added. The Maiden Gate closed off the Old Town on the north.

The structure

The tower has an outer diameter of 9 m and an inner one of 3.6 m, and three storeys: a cellar storey 4.7 m high, a ground floor 4.4 m high and an upper floor 2.5 m high. It is crowned with crenellation and a conical cap. Until 1723 condemned prisoners were held in the tower. After modern forts were built in 1724-1740 the walls were pulled down, and the tower was built over closely with tenement houses. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when Fort Leopold was removed and the Hakenterrasse, today's Chrobry Embankment, was built, its upper part was dismantled and an octagonal tenement house was built. It was destroyed by air raids in 1944.

Reconstruction and the heritage register

After the rubble was cleared the tower was uncovered, and in 1954 it was entered in the heritage register under number 8. It was reconstructed in 1964. For a time it was the seat of the Szczecin Banner of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem. For a long time a picture of it was the symbol of Szczecin Television, and a stylised tower is placed on the emblems, flags and logos of city institutions.

Origin of the name Seven Cloaks Tower

Historians link the name with the guild of tailors, who contributed to the upkeep of the structure. There is also a legend according to which the name comes from seven cloaks sewn for Duke Bogislaw X, but it is only a legend.

Practical information

• Address: Panieńska 47, Szczecin. The tower lies near the Castle Route and the Wielecki Quay with the Piast Boulevard.
• Nearby are the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes (about 200 m), the Old Town Hall (about 300 m) and Loitz House.
• What the tower houses today and whether you can go inside must be checked at the tourist information office.