Lviv Slaski has been taking care of its historical heritage for many years. More restoration work has also recently been carried out in the town to protect and highlight valuable buildings. In addition to the renovation of the town hall, a comprehensive modernisation of one of the buildings on Kościelna Street, the former shell tower, is currently underway in the town.
The shell tower – work in progress
Renovation work on the medieval tower is at an advanced stage. The façade has already been restored, with old plaster being removed and the stone elements cleaned. New pointing and drainage have also been carried out, and window frames have been installed to match the historic ones. In addition, the roof tiles and guttering were replaced, the chimney was restored and roof windows were inserted. The work also covered the interior, where damaged elements were dismantled and the ground floor was prepared for further work. In addition, new electrical wiring was laid throughout the building. After completion of the modernisation, the tower and the adjoining cloister leading towards the Lubańska Tower will be made available to residents and tourists. The building will serve as a venue for meetings and temporary exhibitions, as well as a space for cultural events. The ground floor of the building will be used as a tourist information office.
Shell tower and archaeological discoveries in Lviv Śląski
Archaeological research was carried out inside the tower in the spring of 2025. At that time, a 19th-century sandstone slab floor and a partially buried cellar built of stone and brick were discovered. The new findings show that the building was rebuilt several times and adapted to the changing needs of the inhabitants. It was originally built as a defensive feature and was converted into a residential building in the 18th and 19th centuries. The cellar, which has been found, is a valuable testimony to ancient building techniques and a source of knowledge about the history of the building itself. The archaeological documentation will allow decisions to be made regarding the further protection of this fragment of the monument.
Lviv city walls
The tower on Kościelna Street is part of a larger structure, which was Lviv’s city walls. Their construction began even before 1261 and was carried out in two stages. First, the inner ring of walls was built, followed in the 15th century by the outer ring, equipped with bastions. There were three main gates leading into the town: Lubanska, Zlotoryska and Boleslawiecka. In later centuries, the fortifications were rebuilt several times. During the Silesian wars, they again had a defensive function and individual towers changed their purpose. An example is the Lubańska Gate Tower, which served as a prison in the 17th century, later as a gunpowder warehouse, and in the 20th century housed a youth hostel.
The shell tower before and after the façade renovation. Photo: Google Maps and Lviv Municipal Office
“Polish Carcassonne”
A significant fragment of the former fortifications with towers and gates has been preserved to this day. Thanks to the double layout of the walls Lviv Śląski is sometimes referred to as the Polish Carcassonne. These buildings are among the most valuable examples of defensive architecture in Lower Silesia and constitute an important element of the city’s identity. They have survived to this day in spite of the considerable destruction of the city during World War II, which was estimated at around 40%.
The ongoing renovation of the shell tower and the conservation of other fragments of the walls is an important step towards the protection of Lviv’s material heritage, which for centuries has shaped its unique character.
Source: Lviv City Hall
Read also: History | Monument | Renovation | Interesting facts | whiteMAD on Instagram
