The Market Square, Medieval square in Wrocław, Poland
The Market Square is a broad paved expanse in the heart of Wrocław, surrounded by multi-story houses of varying architectural styles. At its center rises the Gothic town hall, while facades in different colors and periods line the edges all around.
Duke Henry I the Bearded founded the square between 1214 and 1232 under Magdeburg law as a trading place for the growing city. Over the centuries rulership and building styles changed, yet the central function remained.
The square takes its name from the medieval trade that shaped daily life here for centuries. Today locals and visitors gather in front of the colorful townhouses that host cafés and shops, while the Świdnicka Cellar continues to welcome guests beneath its vaulted ceilings.
The pedestrian area can be reached from eleven streets and offers many restaurants and cafés. Visitors may cross the space at any time and find seating throughout, especially during warmer months.
The ground level today sits roughly two meters higher than in medieval times, showing centuries of layered paving and rubble. Underground foundations of older buildings still remain, bearing witness to earlier settlement phases.
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