Baszta Jacek

The Baszta Jacek, also known as Kiek in de Kök, is a historic defensive tower in Gdańsk that commemorates Saint Hyacinth of Poland. Built toward the end of the 14th century as part of the medieval fortifications of the Main Town, this octagonal tower rises skyward beneath its distinctive brick cap. Its massive walls are up to two and a half meters thick and extend across eight floors. During the Middle Ages it served as part of the city's defenses, but in the 17th and 18th centuries it was put to a variety of uses, such as a warehouse, lookout post, and prison. The name comes from the fact that, from its height, you could peer down into the kitchens of the townspeople below, making the tower a fascinating testimony to the city's history.