Market Square in Wałbrzych

The market square in Wałbrzych is the central space of the former Waldenburg, for centuries a wealthy centre of linen trade and mining. After a thorough revitalisation it gained an eye-catching fountain, restored townhouses and greenery — and reclaimed its role as a meeting place for residents and visitors. Wałbrzych itself has almost 99,000 inhabitants and is a city with powiat rights in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

Old and new town halls

In the middle of the square stands the new town hall, erected in the second half of the 19th century to a design by the royal builder Waesemann; today it houses the city offices. Earlier, the square was graced by an older building from 1731 — a one-storey Baroque structure topped with a clock turret and a helm roof.

Townhouses of the linen merchants

Around the town hall, wooden market stalls once stood, since a fair was held here every week. In the mid-18th century they were replaced by imposing, tiled townhouses. The three oldest ones — Pod Kotwicą (Under the Anchor), z Trzema Różami (With Three Roses) and pod Atlantami (Under the Atlantes) — date from the heyday of the linen trade. At houses no. 5–9 wine cellars used to operate, where, it is said, Goethe himself drank wine.

In practice

The square combines well with a broader sightseeing plan: Wrocław's Książ castle is roughly 8.5 km away, the Palm House in Lubiechów waits within the city, and the trails of the Wałbrzych Mountains start above the rooftops.