Old towns & squares

Market Square in Kłodzko

The medieval market square of Kłodzko, today named after Bolesław Chrobry, surprises from the first steps: its surface slopes down noticeably, so the town houses in the corners stand at different heights. The rectangle, measuring roughly 100 by 60 metres, was laid out in the first half of the 14th century and still follows its medieval layout.

Eight streets from four corners

Two streets run from each corner — eight in total: Spadzista and Armii Krajowej, Wodna and Wita Stwosza, Łukasińskiego and Stroma, Czeska and Grodzisko. The name of the first one is a hint for visitors: the considerable drop of the terrain along the shorter frontages makes an impression, and in winter, when the square is covered with ice, it becomes a real test of your footwear.

Town hall, column and pillory

The square itself is filled by the town hall, a Marian column, a pillory and a city well — a set that defined the standing of Silesian trading towns for centuries. In the house at number 13 a historic pharmacy operates, one of the calling cards of the old town. In the evening lamps light up the square and the buildings gain a depth invisible in full daylight.

In practice

You can enter the square at any time, without tickets. Kłodzko's old town is a convenient base for exploring the Kłodzko Valley, and a walk between the town houses with a coffee stop in one of the cafés by the square usually takes an hour that visitors tend to extend.