Hansel and Gretel houses, Wrocław

Hansel and Gretel houses are two narrow medieval townhouses linked by a Baroque archway, featuring elaborately decorated facades with colorful details. The structures occupy the northwestern corner of Market Square with intricate architectural embellishments throughout.

Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, these townhouses originally marked the entrance to a cemetery and bore a Latin inscription reading 'Death is the gate to life'. This connection to a burial ground shaped their early significance in the urban landscape.

The smaller house contains an art gallery showing works by local artist Eugeniusz Get Stankiewicz, while the larger structure operates as a social establishment. Both buildings reflect how residents and visitors use this historic corner for contemporary cultural and social life.

The houses stand at the northwestern corner of Market Square and remain accessible to visitors during regular business hours. Walking across the square itself offers the best view for seeing both facades and the connecting archway from different angles.

The Baroque archway linking the two buildings creates a visual illusion of two structures holding hands, which inspired their nickname after the fairy tale characters. This distinctive connection makes them instantly recognizable and memorable for those crossing the square.