Main Market Square in Nowy Sącz

The Main Market Square in Nowy Sącz (Rynek, roughly "NO-vih SONCH") is the historic heart of this southern Polish city and one of the largest market squares in the country – second only to Kraków's in the Małopolska region. A grand, freshly restored town hall with a clock tower stands in the middle, surrounded by some 30 historic townhouses. It's the natural starting point for exploring Nowy Sącz and the Beskid Sądecki mountains, and it's free to visit at any time.

Where is Nowy Sącz?

Nowy Sącz lies in the foothills of the Carpathians, about 100 km (60 miles) southeast of Kraków, where the Dunajec and Kamienica rivers meet. From Kraków you can drive, take a bus or ride the train; the trip takes roughly 2 hours by road, depending on traffic. Kraków's John Paul II Airport is the nearest major international airport. Many visitors combine Nowy Sącz with the spa town of Krynica-Zdrój or rafting on the Dunajec.

A brief history

The town was founded on November 8, 1292, by Wenceslaus II, King of Bohemia, who also ruled Kraków at the time – making Nowy Sącz the only Polish town established by a Czech king. It grew up on a busy trade route between Hungary and Kraków, and the square was laid out in the founding charter.

The Rynek is a rectangle measuring roughly 160 × 120 m (525 × 395 ft), almost 2 hectares; some sources give 150 × 120 m. Streets leave it symmetrically from each side, a classic medieval grid. In the 17th century about 40 townhouses lined the square; fires destroyed most of the older buildings, and today's roughly 30 houses date mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries. After World War II the square even served as a bus station.

The town hall

The current town hall was built in 1895–1897 to designs by city architect Jan Peroś, after a fire on April 17, 1894, destroyed the previous Baroque building along with the town's royal charters. Its eclectic facade is crowned by a four-story clock tower. Inside, the council chamber has a neo-Renaissance coffered ceiling and 1911 paintings by Piotr Spitzmann-Karwosiecki depicting scenes from the town's history.

A major renovation from 2024 to 2026, costing around PLN 27 million, restored the facade to its original colors and modernized the interior, adding an elevator for the first time. The building reopened to the public on May 9, 2026. Since it houses the city government, the interiors are usually open to visitors only during open days and special events.

What to see nearby

• The townhouses – walk the full perimeter to admire 19th-century balconies, cornices and portals.
• Maria Ritter Gallery – a branch of the regional museum in one of the townhouses on the square.
• St. Margaret's Basilica – a short walk from the square.
• The Gothic House – headquarters of the Nowy Sącz District Museum on Lwowska Street.
• Sądecki Ethnographic Park and Galician Town – an open-air museum a few kilometers from the center, recreating rural and small-town life in the region.

Practical tips and is it worth visiting?

The square is a public space, open 24/7 and free (as of October 2026). Allow 30–60 minutes for the square itself, or half a day with the basilica and museums. Leave your car in a paid parking area in the center and explore on foot. Prices in cafés are in Polish złoty (PLN) and generally lower than in Kraków.

Is it worth it? If you're heading into the mountains south of Kraków, absolutely – it's a relaxed, authentic town square without Kraków's crowds, and the restored town hall looks better now than it has in decades.