Water Tower in Oleśnica

The water tower in Oleśnica stands on Wojska Polskiego Street, on the site of the former Wartenbergerstrasse, and dates from 1896-1897, when the town was building its municipal water supply network.

Design by engineer Adolf Thiem

The tower was designed by engineer Adolf Thiem, who was also the author of the entire Oleśnica water supply system. The building has a brick, cylindrical shaft and reaches 45 metres in height, of which 33.5 metres is to roof level. The style is described as historicism referencing medieval architecture.

Steel tank at the top

At the top of the shaft is a steel, riveted tank 10 metres in diameter and 5.8 metres high, holding between 350 and 500 cubic metres of water, covered with a pyramid-shaped roof. Spiral stairs running along the inner walls of the shaft lead up to the tank.

A heritage site in the hands of the water utility

The tower belongs to the local water and sewerage company, which carried out conservation works on it in 1993-1994 and in 2020. The building is listed in the municipal register of heritage monuments, though it has not been entered in the heritage register. Nearby stands the Ducal Castle in Oleśnica, and not far away is the small Ejection Seat Museum in Oleśnica.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Wojska Polskiego 57, Oleśnica
• Access: on the grounds of the municipal waterworks near the centre of Oleśnica, pedestrian access
• What to expect: the building is viewed from the outside, sources do not say whether the interior is open to visitors - this is worth checking directly with the water utility