Old Town Market Square in Warsaw

Old Town Market Square in Warsaw is a medieval square in the historic core of the Polish capital and forms the heart of the reconstructed Old Town. The four sides of the square are named after 18th-century parliamentarians, and the surrounding buildings display a mix of Renaissance and Baroque forms.

The square was founded in the late 13th century as a meeting point for merchants and housed a town hall until 1817. After complete destruction in World War II, reconstruction began in 1945 based on old documents and paintings.

The bronze Warsaw Mermaid statue from 1855 stands at the center and embodies the city's beloved legend of a fish-woman who once protected fishermen. Around the square, street musicians and artists draw locals and visitors with their performances.

The Warsaw Historical Museum at building number 42 on Dekert's Side displays over three hundred thousand objects in 21 halls. The square itself is freely accessible and best explored on foot, as the pedestrian zone allows no vehicles.

Each building around the square is based on precise architectural reconstructions from detailed photographs and paintings of the 17th century. This work took years of research and made the Old Town the first modern reconstruction project inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.