The construction of the tower in Oświęcim began in the first half of the 13th century and was completed in the 14th century. Initially, stone was used in its creation, but over time it was replaced by brick. Apart from its guard and defence function, it was to provide the castle’s inhabitants with shelter in case of danger. It was the last point of defence. The only entrance was at the level of 10 metres and could be crossed using a ladder or wooden stairs. Between 1512-1513 the tower was built. Most likely, in the same period, a stone portal, preceded by a porch supported by stone cantilevers, and a clock were set on the tower’s façade. From the 16th to the 18th century, the tower served only as a prison. Sources say that a lighter punishment was a prison on the upper floor and it was served by people of noble origin. Such a prisoner was not bound by strict regulations and could receive guests, but could not cross the threshold of his isolation. In 1624, Piotr Gierałtowski, “born” for killing Andrzej Jordan – “born”, was imprisoned in the tower. The highest penalty in the lower part of the tower could not exceed one year and six Sundays. Since the 16th century, the building was increasingly destroyed. In the 19th century it was decided to pass the entrance to the ground floor directly from the castle courtyard. Between 1904-1909, a conservation renovation was carried out, which was to secure the destroyed monument. In the lower dungeon there are wooden stairs leading to the upper storey. Between 2007-2010, a conservation renovation of the tower was carried out in accordance with the project of Piotr Then from EU funds. The tower storey was then raised by 2.5 metres and covered with a new roof. Since 2010 it has been an object belonging to the Castle Museum in Oświęcim and open to the public.

“The castle has a brick tower, quite high and slender and as it towers over the castle from all sides, the one who conquered it, would seize the whole borough. Royal captives have just been captured by the knights and locked in the tower. These, escaped using the rope which they received food with… landed on the battlement, captured a few guards and pushed them down the tower… Eight prisoners managed to seize the tower. They wouldn’t have died of hunger, as the tower was fully supplied with everything what was needed. And if it hadn’t been for Jan Synowiec, who knew how to solve this problem, they would have succeeded. He made an agreement with the perpetrators and being not aware of the help that was coming, let them go out freely with weaponry and horses. Moreover, he promised to give them 200 ducats. And as they were on their way back home, Katarzyna Włodkowa, the wife of Włodek from Skrzynno, who was practicing knightly craft and was in Oświęcim at that moment, sent a few of her subordinates to capture the traitors. She order to decapitate the captured ones and everything that had been given to them, was taken back. And so the Oświęcim castle within a few days was almost lost but regained”.

(passage from the Chronicle of J. Długosz about the escape of prisoners from the castle tower).

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