Medieval Town Hall in Wroclaw

From the beginning of its existence, the town hall has witnessed many important historical events and is a representative place, where the authorities of Wroclaw took dignified guests. This tradition has survived to this day.

The walls of the town hall were hosted by the most important world leaders, monarchs, clergy, and artists. In its basement there is one of the oldest gastronomic establishments in Europe—the legendary Świdnicka Cellar.

The Old Town Hall in Wrocław is a monument of secular Gothic architecture unique on a European scale. It is a two-story, three-tier structure on a rectangular plane with a rectangular annex of the council and bench building, adjacent to the north facade, and a square tower.

Located in the city center, it was built in several construction stages over a period of about 250 years (from the end of the 13th century to the 16th century). He served as the seat of the municipal authorities and the Wrocław court, he served all residents of the city.

The oldest part of the town hall was built around 1299. This part, then known as consistorium (Latin place of assembly), is now almost completely absorbed by further construction stages. A free-standing consistorium consisted of a two-tier one-story ground-floor hall, covered with a ceiling and a tower adjoining the west.

After the city purchased from the descendants of the hereditary commune administrator, its rights increased significantly, and the city council's competences increased significantly. It was necessary to build a new seat of the councilor. In 1328-1333, a second, much smaller proetorium building was built (Latin: headquarters), which housed the Council and Bench Chamber. The building was closed from the north by a court yard with a pillory located on it.

In the years 1343-1357, further rooms were added from the court square: a one-pillar courtroom on the ground floor and a prince's hall on the first floor, serving as a chapel. The upper floor over the former consistorium and the praetorium was also added. Both buildings were covered with a common roof, the cellar was vaulted and the tower was raised. Around 1368, a clock was put in place, the bell of which has survived to this day. The entrance from the east is decorated with a representative portal. The final shape of the town hall was decided by a great reconstruction in the years 1470-1480, when the building was enlarged by almost half, adding new rooms from the south, and given a more representative character.

Three projections with richly decorated parts of the upper storey, in the form of bay windows, were added to the newly created southern route. The central and northern tracks were covered with a common, high roof and decorated with a richly decorated peak with pinnacles on the eastern side. The southern route and the north-eastern annexe were covered with separate, lower roofs, also decorated with decorative peaks from the east. In 1510, the elevation of the town hall was plastered and covered with painting decoration. Somewhat later, Renaissance portals were placed in the Court Room and the Council Chamber, and on October 18, 1536, on the Town Hall Tower—a new one, the coat of arms of Wroclaw. In 1548, the north-eastern annex was enlarged from the side of the courtyard. In 1559, the towers of the town hall were raised and covered with a Renaissance helmet. In 1580, a clock on the eastern façade was started.

From 1808, the interiors of the town hall were gradually degraded. The outdated building did not meet the requirements of modern administration and soon the city councilors moved to the nearby New Town Hall.

It was not until the end of the 19th century that the first maintenance works were carried out, among others: the pinnacles in the eastern façade were reconstructed, the west façade was decorated with fanciful pseudo-gothic openwork peaks. Inside, a new, impressive staircase was built. Further works were carried out in the 1930s. The Great Hall was restored to form a three-aisle, new floors were laid, the eastern façade was plastered. Also, the shopping halls surrounding the town hall were removed. During the fights for Wrocław in 1945, the town hall was severely damaged. His representative character has been restored to him by numerous post-war reconstructions and conservation.

On the Main Market Square itself and around it, numerous monuments are the most valuable treasures of national heritage. 11 streets pass from the market in all directions. Behind the south-western corner of the Main Market Square there is an auxiliary market called Solny Square

Currently, the City Museum of Wroclaw is located in the Old Town Hall.