Nysa Market Square

Nysa Market Square is a medieval market place measuring about 200 × 100 m and for centuries the heart of the capital of a bishops' duchy. The war destroyed most of its buildings, but some gems survived: the Renaissance Town Weigh House, a Baroque fountain and well, and the basilica with its free-standing bell tower. The town hall rebuilt in the 21st century, with its viewing tower, has added a new and still debated chapter to the story.

History: the tower that outlived the town hall

The town hall was first recorded in 1347 and extended from 1488. In 1499 Hans Kangenstein added a soaring tower over 90 m high, square at the base and octagonal with a gallery further up. The building survived a storm, an earthquake in 1590 and a lightning fire in 1627, but in 1782 it was demolished on the orders of Frederick II. The 94-metre tower, however, stood until March 1945. The remains of the old town hall were blown up in spring 1966. The new town hall was completed in 2008: on 22 December a 30-metre spire was mounted on the rebuilt 50-metre tower.

What to see

• The Town Weigh House of 1602–1604, founded by Bishop Johann Sitsch. It housed the administration of the bishops' duchy and the official scales in its arcade; a fragment of wall painting and a statue of Justice survive.
• The Triton Fountain from the early 18th century: a triton blows a horn of plenty amid dolphins facing the four points of the compass, and the fountain bears a coat of arms with the letters SPQN and the date 1701.
• The Beautiful Well of 1686 at the end of Wrocławska Street, with a Baroque wrought-iron grille by Wilhelm Helleweg, overseer of the arsenal and mint.
• The Basilica of St James and St Agnes with its free-standing bell tower, closing the north side of the square.

Did you know?

In 1497, during a session of the regional diet, Duke Nicholas II of Niemodlin was beheaded on Nysa's market square. The square was once divided into smaller markets: the western part was the Parade Square, while butter, grain and fish markets operated elsewhere. The Weigh House suffered twice – it was wrecked by Napoleon's army in 1807 and by the Red Army in 1945; rebuilding began in 1947, and today it houses the town library.

Tripto tips

The square is open around the clock, and cars may drive around the buildings. Allow about an hour to walk around it and see the Weigh House, the fountain and the well. The best views come from the new town hall tower, which serves as a viewpoint. Extend your walk to the nearby Wrocław and Ziębice towers and the forts of Nysa Fortress.