Mon Plaisir Tower

Rising in ruins above the village of Pobiedna in southwestern Poland, the Mon Plaisir Tower is a striking relic of 19th-century amateur science - an astronomical observation tower built more than two centuries ago by a nobleman fascinated by the stars.

About Mon Plaisir Tower

Mon Plaisir - French for "my pleasure" - was built between 1803 and 1804 by Adolf Traugott von Gersdorf, a local landowner and astronomy enthusiast. Standing roughly 25 metres tall, it was originally fitted with instruments for studying gravitational force, the speed of light, and electricity, reflecting the broad scientific curiosity of its founder.

History

From 1850, the tower was opened to the public and, with an adjoining inn, became a popular tourist attraction and observation point in the region - a role it kept for decades under its other name, the Kaiser Wilhelm Tower. Today the structure survives only as ruins, and the local municipality has been seeking funding to restore and reopen it.

Location & getting there

The tower stands in the Pogórze Izerskie (Izera Foothills) near the village of Pobiedna, in the Jelenia Góra area of southwestern Poland.

Visiting Mon Plaisir Tower

As a ruined structure, Mon Plaisir Tower is best treated as a historical landmark rather than a working observatory today. Check locally for the latest access conditions and any progress on its restoration before visiting.

See your named star from here

While Mon Plaisir Tower's own telescopes are long gone, the tradition it represents - pointing an instrument at the sky to find something specific - lives on. Find a real star to name of your own through our star-naming packages, or browse the catalogue of stars already named.