Rynek of Wrocław
The Rynek of Wrocaw has 3.8ha of surface and belongs to the biggest market places in Poland (the bigger ones are in Kraków and Olecko).
Rynek of Wrocław has 3.8ha of surface and belongs to the biggest market places in Poland (the bigger ones are in Kraków and Olecko). However, the Late Gothic Town Hall with its 66m tower is the biggest building of this kind in Poland. In its underground functions Piwnica Świdnicka, one of the oldest restaurants in Europe.
The edifice of the New Town Hall was built in the 19th century. This is where the authorities and the President have their offices. The old Town Hall belongs to the City Museum.
Rynek is surrounded by the tenement houses funded by the patricians of Wrocław. The original building, stylistically different from the rest, is a modernist high rise built to the design of Heinrich Rump in 1930.
After World War II Rynek went through several changes. In 1956 the statue of Aleksander Fredro was moved from Lvov. In the 70s the tram tracks were closed, the car traffic was heavily limited (the old petrol station was dismantled). The whipping post, destroyed during the war was restored to its original place.
In 2000 a fountain was installed on Gołębi Square, in the western part of Rynek, and was called Zdrój from the name of the then President of Wrocław, Bogdan Zdrojewski.
The whipping post, the fountain and Fredro´s statue are the most popular orientation and meeting points in Rynek. Another interesting spot are Jaś i Małgosia (Hansel and Gretel), two tenement houses of the altarists (guardians of the altar in St. Elizabeth church) in the north-western part of Rynek.
Rynek is also a place of Chirstmas Fairs, New Year’s Eve celebrations, religious, academic and military events. In 2012 Rynek was a big EURO fan zone, gathering as much as 30 thousand people.
Curiosities
- Rynek is 213m long and 178m wide.
- Rynek is surrounded by 60 tenement houses, including: Golden Sun, Griffins, Seven Electors, Blue Sun houses and Barasch shopping centre (today’s Feniks).
- Rynek is surrounded by 11 streets,
- it had 200 thousand people during the New Year’s Eve in 2013.
