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Since more than 3 years at Campus Kuchl of Salzburg University of Applied Sciences is a constant interest regarding Paulownia, a wood species that originates from Asia and was naturalized in European plantations in the last decade. The research started with the assessment of physical and mechanical properties of Paulownia tomentosa x elongata wood influenced by the stem height (different distances above soil) and the radial position from the pith to bark (cross-section spot), but also with the potential analysis of the sawn wood from three plantation sites in Europe as well as its suitability for the manufacture of solid wood panels (1 and 3 layer), plywood and particleboards. The results (based on Paulownia from Serbia) for the study of wood in the stem have shown that most properties are improved when the samples were taken from upper parts of the tree and from the near bark spot. The results (based on Paulownia from Spain, Bulgaria and Serbia) for the study of the sawn wood show that the mechanical-physical properties were significantly influenced by the plantation site (climate, soil etc.). The samples from Spain have the higher density and mechanical properties. The plantation wood from Bulgaria has the largest of annual ring width and therefore lower density resulting also in lower mechanical properties. The results for the study of edged glued solid wood panels (SWP), single-layered and three-layered made of Paulownia, both calibrated at a thickness of 19mm, were bonded with melamine-urea formaldehyde (MUF), polyurethane (PUR) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) resins. For the single-layered panels, the mechanical and physical properties did not differ significantly and are similar to those of massive Paulownia wood. For the three-layered panels, the adhesive application of PUR influenced positively all SWP properties. Considering the low density, these panels failed to achieve the performance of one-and singlelayered panels made of spruce. The results of these findings recommend Paulownia SWP as lightweight and sustainable core materials for sandwich structures for furniture, packaging industry, etc. Another aim of this research was to manufacture lightweight single-layered particleboard made of Paulownia plantation wood and to analyze the panel's properties at two levels of density, 300 and 400 kg/m² using urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive and high-frequency (HF) pressing technology. The physical and mechanical properties of the panels met at least the requirement for LP1 (light)particleboards for general purposes and use in dry conditions. As a low-density fast-growing tree, Paulownia could have a positive forecast for the European wood markets and a wide range of possible uses, especially in lightweight applications and can replace successfully expensive tropical species as Balsa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]