Until 1945, in this place, there was St. Catherine’s Church, burned down during the “liberation” of the town by the Red Army.
This place is an amazing witness of the complicated history of the town, which is seen on every corner. The town’s history is closely connected with the changes occurring throughout the whole of its history, especially in the 20th Century. St. Catherine’s Church was built in the 12th Century, and it was used by the local Catholics until World War II. It was located close to the Protestant St. Elisabeth’s Church. Today, the tower of the former church houses in its walls the department of the West-Kashubian Museum. A monument to John Paul II is incorporated into the church ruins.
The department of the museum located in the tower presents exhibits connected with the past of Bytów and the surrounding areas. The exhibitions present the primeval history of Bytów, its past, and the history of St. Catherine’s Church.
Nowadays, the tower is an interesting viewing point over the town’s panorama. The tower and the church foundations look especially interesting after dark, when illuminated.
