Grodziszcze Observation Tower

Grodziszcze Observation Tower is a structure built of dressed stone resembling an artificial castle ruin, erected in 1813 by Count Anton Alexander von Magnis. It stands on Grodziszcze, a hill in the southern part of the Włodzicka Hills, in the Central Sudetes, between Gorzuchów Kłodzki and Bożków.

A building like from a fairy tale about a castle

The tower has four storeys and was built of dressed stone from nearby quarries. Its foundations and annexes were designed to make the whole resemble a medieval little castle, although the building served as a viewpoint from the very start, not a stronghold. The ground floor housed a kitchen, while the upper floors held a living room and a bedroom, with the whole crowned by a viewing terrace.

A tourist attraction two centuries old

At the end of the 19th century two wooden kiosks selling goods for tourists were set up next to the tower, which shows that the site had long attracted visitors seeking a view over the Central Sudetes.

Today

The tower is now a neglected ruin. Its decayed roof has collapsed, and the spiral staircase leading to the viewing terrace has broken apart. Visiting the interior and climbing the terrace are not safe.

Practical information

• Location: Grodziszcze in the Włodzicka Hills, Central Sudetes, between Gorzuchów Kłodzki and Bożków, Kłodzko County
• Access: near the village of Bożków, via hiking trails leading up the hill
• Condition: ruin, damaged structure, no safe way to enter the interior
• It's worth checking the current state of the access trail before setting off