Piast tower in Cieszyn

[2] The tower was enlarged in the second half of the fourteenth century and decorated with corner heraldic shields depicting the eagle of the Piasts.

At the end of the 15th century another storey was added with machicolation and brick crenellation covered by a high tent roof.

[1] In the 20th century the tower was renovated in 1976–89, adding, inter alia, an observation deck on the top of it, restoring battlements and the shields with the Piast eagles.

[5] Throughout the ages the tower has been recognised as a symbol of Cieszyn, a testimony of its Piast past and Poles keeping guard on the Olza river.

[6] Built on a square plan, with extensive and cellars partially filled with debris and earth that were supposed to lead to an underground exit beyond the castle walls[8].

Additional parts built in the 15th century - added brick porch based on solid stone cantilevers, with machicolations and crenellations.

As can be seen in an engraving from 1735, initially the tower was covered by a tent roof[1] with separate needles over the corner protrusions of the crenellations.

Under the corner protrusions there are four Gothic heraldic shields from the end of the 14th century with the Piast eagles made of a flat relief, according to tradition sculptured by the Prague master Peter Parler.

[10] In the vicinity of the Piast Tower there is the longest in Europe (65 metres) underground ice tunnel dug in the rock under the Castle Hill.