Market Square in Pszczyna

A spacious square of the medieval urban layout, ringed by carefully restored town houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. The northern frontage holds the Neo-Renaissance town hall — the seat of the town authorities for three centuries — and the Gate of the Elect leads straight from here to the castle.

A town hall born from a town house

The history of the town hall begins in 1716, when the town bought a town house for its seat — paying 110 Rhenish gulden. The building was probably erected in 1658 and survived the town fires of 1679 and 1748. In 1738, funded by the Catholic parish, a tower with a clock was added, the building was extended in 1861, and it gained its present Neo-Renaissance form after a thorough remodelling in 1931.

The square and its boundaries

The boundaries of the old town are marked by Warowna, Piwowarska and Basztowa streets. By the square stand the Evangelical church adjoining the town hall and the Catholic Church of All Saints; on the opposite side of the square survives a former wine bar known as the "Frykówka". The pedestrian street Piastowska leads towards the railway station, with the Silesian Press Museum at its entrance. The square is decorated with street furniture and neatly trimmed plane trees.

A town with a 13th-century pedigree

Pszczyna received its town charter in 1303 or already in the years 1246–1281; the first mayor known by name was Marcin Zatorski, who held office in 1466–1469. The castle and park are a short walk from the square, which makes it a convenient starting point for sightseeing.