Walk in Wroc³aw: Market Square and ¦widnicka Street
Old Market Sqaure and City Hall, Wroc³aw / Pawe³ Kozio³ / Shutterstock
Old Market Sqaure
Of course, it is just a medieval market square which has turned into a popular tourist attraction and a promenade. It is one of Europe's largest old market squares. It is rectangular with dimension of 205m long and 175 m wide. It was created along with the location of Wroclaw between 1214 and 1232 during the times of Henry The Bearded, being one of the few places in the city where retail merchandise was allowed. As years went by, first detached patrician houses were built, then the complete frontages appeared until 1350. The houses around Market Square were altered and redecorated many times over the ages and at present they all represent various styles and ages. The most important is the central complex which consists of City Hall, New City Hall and a number of tenement houses. There also used to be a cloth hall but it was demolished between 1821-1824 after the trade privileges were done away and it was replaced with Classical houses. In one of the buildings of the complex there was Jerzy Grotowski's Teatr Laboratorium where now there is research centre of his artistic activity. There are eleven streets leading to Market Square, two in each corner (¦widnicka, O³awska, Gepperta, Ruska, ¶w. Miko³aja, Odrzañska, Ku¼nicza, WitaStwosza), besides there is also KurzyTarg (Hens Market Square) on the east side built in 14th or 15th century and two narrow streets of Wiêzienna and ¦w. Doroty. Since 19th century until mid 1970s there was a tram line on the market which later was moved to Trasa WZ (East-West Street). After the great renovation between 1996-2000 which included the market surface and the elevations, cars were banned on the east side of Market Square. One will surely be attracted by the intriguing names of houses e.g. House Under Griffins with a tall Mannerism gable, probably the most magnificent in Market Square, House Under Golden Eagle, Under Golden Sun, Under Blue Sun, Under Seven Prince-Electors with its richly decorated frescos, Houses Under Old Gallows, Under Golden Pitcher, Under Green Pumpkin, Under Golden Pelican, Under Mulberry or Under St. John's Head which took the name of the previous houses demolished in 19th century. Two little houses in the north-west corner cannot be missed - they used to belong to the altarists taking care of the altar in St. Elisabeth's Church. At present they are linked with an arcade gate and are playfully called Hansel and Gretel.
City Hall
In 1261 when Wroclaw was under Magdeburg Law, the first City Hall was built. It had one storey, cellars and a tower on the west side. Townsmen gathered there every year to elect 11 jurors and 8 councillors. During the year the building was used for trade purposes. When between 1327 and 1329 the city purchased alderman's rights and was exempted from the obligation of swearing an oath to the prince, Jurors' Room and Council Room were built in one of the corners. The city hall grew larger and larger to achieve its present size and shape between 1470 and 1510 which has been preserved thanks to numerous restorations from the 19th until 21st centuries. Nowadays it is one of Poland's best preserved historical city halls in Poland, being at the same time one of Wroclaw's most precious architectural monuments. This beautiful building resembles a prince's castle with its rich reliefs and ornaments on the elevations and in the interiors, among which stand out Townsmen Hall, Court Hall, Jurors' Office Room and Jurors' Room, Council Office Room and Council Room, and Alderman's Room. The Great Hall takes up the major part of the first floor and has a beautifully decorated vault with 161 carved keystones. Its decoration was to represent the political power of the city. The former City Hall houses Historical Museum of Wroclaw City, specifically - Museum of Burgess Art. All of the rooms mentioned above are open to visitors. The eastern façade of City Hall is part of Wroclaw's logo and is easily recognized Wroclaw's mark. In the cellars there is Piwnica ¦widnicka (Cellar of ¦widnica), one of the oldest eating places in Europe.