Gliwice Radio Tower
Museum Historic wooden radio tower associated with the Gleiwitz incident
The wooden Gliwice radio tower marks the 1939 Gleiwitz incident site; engineers, history buffs, and architecture students study the timber mast and its role in prewar events.
The Gliwice Radio Tower is a tall wooden radio mast in Gliwice, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, notable for its lattice construction and historical associations. It is a distinctive engineering monument and local landmark.
The tower was erected in the interwar period as a radio transmission structure and later became associated with the staged Gleiwitz incident on 31 August 1939, which Nazi Germany used as a pretext for the invasion of Poland. The structure has survived as one of the region’s notable industrial-era monuments.
The tower stands within the city of Gliwice in southern Poland, in an urban-industrial setting northwest of Katowice and accessible from the Silesian metropolitan area.
- Height and construction: The wooden lattice tower is approximately 111 metres tall and is one of the best-known wooden radio masts in Europe.
- Historical significance: The site is historically linked to the Gleiwitz incident of 1939, a Nazi-orchestrated provocation used as a pretext for the invasion of Poland.
How to Get to Gliwice Radio Tower #
Gliwice lies about 25 km west of Katowice. By car take the A4/E40 and local roads toward Gliwice. Regional trains and buses connect Katowice with Gliwice; from the station take local taxi or a short bus ride towards the radio mast area.
Tips for Visiting Gliwice Radio Tower #
- Stand on the eastern viewing platform at dusk - the silhouette of the wooden latticework reads like an engineering skeleton against the sky.
- Pair the visit with the nearby Silesian Museum in Katowice to trace the region's 20th-century political history.
- Take local guidance: access to parts of the site can be restricted, and some areas are dangerous because of old electrical equipment.
Best Time to Visit Gliwice Radio Tower #
Visit outside the high-winter snows; spring and autumn give the best conditions for exploring and photography.
Weather & Climate near Gliwice Radio Tower #
Gliwice Radio Tower's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 24°C. Moderate rainfall (676 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 1°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -4°C. The driest month with just 29 mm and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. The wettest month with 94 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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