Salt graduation tower in Radlin

The salt graduation tower in Radlin stands in the northern part of the town, on Wypandów Street, right on the border with Rybnik. It was built by the town, and the brine is delivered from outside.

What the Radlin graduation tower is

According to the town, it is the first salt graduation tower in the industrial area of Upper Silesia and one of the first two in the whole of Silesia. The town justifies the idea by saying that an industrial landscape calls for prevention of respiratory problems, which is why it decided to build its own structure with brine delivered from outside.

The graduation tower is rectangular in plan, measuring 3.95 m by 24 m, and is 8.20 m high. The town presents it as part of its health-promotion activities.

How the graduation tower works

The structure is made of wood, with branches, usually blackthorn, layered on it. The brine pumped to the top trickles down over the branches and evaporates naturally, producing an aerosol that fills the air around it.

The intensity depends on the weather. The brine evaporates most strongly on a sunny, windy day, least during rain, and at night the process almost stops. The town stresses that the graduation tower also works when the brine is not visibly running down the outer branches, because it is enough for the inside of the branches to be damp.

What the surroundings are like

The structure stands in a green corner by the Emma and Marcel Trail and by the Radlin PKP - Rybnik Reservoir cycling route, so it is often a walking destination. The town stresses that despite the proximity of the centre a separate ecosystem has survived here, and therefore asks visitors not to leave cars right next to the pavilion.

Former mining plants lie nearby. About 1.1 km from the graduation tower is the "Ignacy" Historic Mine.

About 1.5 km further on is the site of the former Marcel mine. The town's website also describes the Emma Colony, called the Marcel estate, built of red brick next to the mining grounds.

Events and season

In summer, "Tężniogranie" music evenings are held by the graduation tower, organised by the Radlin Municipal Cultural Centre (MOK) and already established in the town's cultural calendar. The dates change every season, so check them on the town's or the MOK's website.

According to the town, the graduation tower is open from March until late autumn, and use of it is free of charge. The winter break is announced on the town's website.

Practical information

• Address: Wypandów Street, Radlin, northern part of the town near the border with Rybnik.
• Parking: for visitors about 300 m from the graduation tower; the town reserves the parking next to the pavilion itself for people with disabilities and for those who use the drinking water tap.
• Access: on foot or by bike along the Emma and Marcel Trail and the Radlin PKP - Rybnik Reservoir route.
• Check the season dates on the Radlin town website before your visit, because the start and end dates depend on the year.