Observation tower in Gomel

Its height is about 40 meters, and it has about 200 steps. Initially, the structure was built for the needs of a sugar factory owned by Prince Ivan Paskevich in the early 19th century. One of the factory buildings, located underground, housed a boiler room. Therefore, a tall brick chimney was built to exhaust the combustion products.

Later, the sugar factory was moved to Dobrush, some buildings were converted into a Winter Garden, and the tower was transformed into a viewpoint. During the Great Patriotic War, it was actively used as an observation post. To this day, traces of artillery shelling can still be seen on the structure.

Until the beginning of the 21st century, the Gomel tower served as a city observation deck. In the early 2000s, it was closed for reconstruction due to its dilapidated condition. During the reconstruction, the building was reinforced, the stair flights were replaced, electricity was installed, and the observation deck was refurbished and made safer.

In 2015, the restored tower opened for visits. Now, citizens and guests of the city can discover Gomel from a new perspective – from a bird's eye view. A narrow, steep staircase leads to the top, which, according to visitors, seems endless. The ascent level can be tracked through the view from the small windows located throughout the height of the building. From the top platform, there is a stunning view of the park, the city spaces, and the Sozh embankment.

The observation tower is located in the southern part of the Gomel palace-park ensemble. Tickets are available at the Winter Garden building. From the bus station and railway station, public transport can be taken to the park, heading to the ‘Lenin Square’ stop.