It is an inseparable element of the Sopot landscape. It rises right next to the famous pier, and from its top we can admire a beautiful panorama of the Tricity coast. The Sopot lighthouse - this is what we are talking about - after renovation, it invites tourists again!
Every visitor to Sopot knows this characteristic building. The tower – lighthouse is an object recorded in thousands of photos taken by tourists. The Sopot tower serves three functions – navigation, a hospital chimney, and an observation tower.
Sopot Lighthouse, fot. Pomorskie Travel
From the chimney to the lighthouse
The picturesque Lighthouse, located right next to the Sopot pier, has a history quite unusual for this type of facility. In fact, it is a chimney. The balneological facility established in Sopot at the beginning of the 20th century (1903) needed a boiler room, and its enlightened designers thought to construct an “unusual” chimney for it in such a way that it would not disfigure the flourishing area.
In 1956, the building was handed over to the Rheumatology Hospital. When the hospital boiler room was modernized in 1975, the chimney with a light source was also rebuilt. Initially, this light was not considered a lighthouse due to its small range (5 nautical miles), only after changing the optical and light device in 1977 and obtaining a nominal light range of over 17 nautical miles, it became a lighthouse.
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In the years 2021-2023, further works were carried out, thanks to which the lighthouse lost several dozen years! The modernization of the tower was a comprehensive revitalization of a characteristic part of the facility belonging to the complex of the Historic Balneology Department of the Sopot hospital. The roof of the tower, the interior of the building were renovated, including the replacement of doors and windows, as well as the facades of the building and external elements. There are 136 steps leading to the top of the 30-meter high tower. From the terrace you can admire the beautiful panorama of the Bay of Gdańsk and the Tricity.
Balneotherapy center, photo: Pomorskie Travel
Currently, the light has a nominal range of 7 nautical miles and, according to the applicable criteria, it is no longer officially classified as a lighthouse, but for the sake of history and tradition, the Sopot tower will be called a lighthouse forever!
Sopot Lighthouse, photo: materials organizer
