Market Square in Żary

The market square in Żary, the largest town of the Polish Lusatia, took shape already in the Middle Ages. Its heart is the town hall, whose brick core reaches back to the 14th century and kept growing until the 19th century. It is a square where historic fabric meets a surprisingly light, summery atmosphere.

The town hall and the cloth stalls

Beside the town hall stood cloth halls and burgher houses, absorbed into the building in the 19th century when the old arcades were walled up. From the Renaissance structure only the entrance portal survives, and the original wooden tower was replaced with a brick one — which is why today's seat of local government has little in common with its historic architecture.

The Telemann bench and the square beach

Since 2010 a bench dedicated to Georg Philipp Telemann has stood on the square, commemorating the composer's several-year stint in Żary. In summer a beach with sand and bamboo parasols is laid out behind the fountain, turning the square into a resting spot right in the town centre.

In practice

Żary, with a population of 36,000, lie in Lubusz Voivodeship. The castle and the parish church are close to the square, and a walk can be extended to the Promnitza lookout tower on the edge of town.