For many people, salt brine graduation towers are associated with famous spa towns such as Ciechocinek or Inowrocław. In Zabrze, however, these distinctive wooden structures have found a new purpose, bringing free outdoor wellness spaces into the heart of local neighbourhoods.
Opened in 2023, Zabrze's two salt brine graduation towers have quickly become popular places to unwind, enjoy the fresh air and spend time outdoors. Whether stopping by after a walk, visiting with family or taking a quiet break from the day, they offer residents another way to enjoy the city's growing network of public spaces.
Two Locations Across the City
Zabrze is home to two public salt brine graduation towers.
The first is located in Kończyce, beside the District Cultural Centre at ul. Dorotki 3, where it complements the area's community events and green surroundings.
The second can be found in Maciejów on the Orlik sports complex at ul. Kondratowicza, creating an attractive place to relax before or after outdoor activities.
Both facilities are free to use and operate during the warmer months of the year.
How Do Salt Brine Graduation Towers Work?
Although their appearance may seem unusual, the principle behind a graduation tower is surprisingly simple.
Mineral-rich brine is pumped to the top of a timber structure before slowly flowing over densely packed blackthorn branches. As the liquid trickles down, natural evaporation creates a fine mineral aerosol in the surrounding air.
Visitors simply sit or walk nearby, breathing in the fresh, humid air created by the circulating brine.
These structures have long been associated with spa towns across Poland and are widely valued as peaceful places for relaxation and gentle outdoor recreation.
A Space Designed for Wellbeing
The graduation towers were built as part of Zabrze's wider City as a Space for Development (Miasto Przestrzenią Rozwoju) programme, which focuses on creating healthier, more welcoming neighbourhoods.
The project was funded largely through the Norway Grants, with 85 per cent of construction costs covered by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.
Alongside improving public spaces, the investment aimed to encourage outdoor activity, strengthen local communities and provide residents with accessible places to relax.
The City of Zabrze also promotes the graduation towers as places where visitors can enjoy natural brine inhalation, which is beneficial for respiratory health. The towers also increase humidity in the surrounding air and provide exposure to iodine-containing mineral aerosols.
As with similar facilities elsewhere in Poland, these are promoted as potential health benefits rather than guaranteed medical treatments.
A Welcome Addition to Zabrze
Unlike Poland's traditional medical spa destinations, Zabrze has an industrial heritage rather than a history as a health resort. The addition of the graduation towers reflects a growing trend among Polish cities to invest in public spaces that combine recreation, wellbeing and environmental improvements.
Since opening in 2023, the two sites have become valued neighbourhood amenities, offering residents attractive places to pause, meet friends or simply enjoy a few quiet moments outdoors.
As the city continues to invest in its public spaces, the graduation towers in Kończyce and Maciejów stand as practical examples of how thoughtful regeneration can enhance everyday life for local communities.
Places to Relax and Breathe
The graduation towers are open seasonally from spring until autumn before closing during the winter months for maintenance and servicing.
Locations:
Kończyce, District Cultural Centre, ul. Dorotki 3
Maciejów, Orlik Sports Complex, ul. Kondratowicza
Admission is free.
Source and image credit: miastozabrze.pl (fot. Pawel Janicki)