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Old Town Market Square in Warsaw. Photo by Suicasmo-

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Old Town Square Market Place

Warsaw’s Old Town Market Place is the core and oldest part of the Old Town of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Immediately after Warsaw Uprising, it was destroyed by the German military.

Following the end of World War II, the Old Town Market Place was built to its present appearance. It is part of the Historic Center of Warsaw.

Here are the top 10 amazing facts about Old Town Square Market Place.

1. The Old Town Square Market Was Established in the 13th Century

The Old Town Square is the core heart of the Old Town; until the end of the 18th century, it was the center of all of Warsaw. It was established in the late 13th century, the same time the city was founded.

At the square, the representatives of guilds and merchants met in the town hall for fairs and the occasional execution was held.

The houses around it represented Gothic Style until the fire of 1607 damaged them. The house was rebuilt in late Renaissance and Baroque styles by Tylman Gamerski in 1701.

The district was destroyed by the bombs of the German Luftwaffe during the Invasion of Poland in 1939. The ancient market was rebuilt in the 1950s after being damaged by the German army and the suppression of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.

2. The Old Town Square Has Two Mermaid

Syrenka (Mermaid) statute, Old Town Market Square in Warsaw. Photo by Witia-

There is a mermaid statue in the Old Town Square Market, which is not the original. This new statue was positioned here in 2008.

The initial mermaid statue is currently on display in the Museum of Warsaw, which itself is located in Old Town Square. This means there are two mermaid statues in the square.

The Warsaw Mermaid, a bronze sculpture by Konstanty Hegel, has stood as the symbol of Warsaw since 1855.

3. The Square Has Four Sides, Each with Their Name

Warsaw Old Town Square has four sides with its name. The sides are all named after 18th-century Polish politicians.

The north side is Strona Dekert, named after Jan Dekert, east side is Strona Barssa, the south side is Strona Zakrzewskiego and west side is Strona Hugo Kollataja.

Unfortunately, many Polish people don’t even know about these names and when arranging to meet a friend, they will use compass directions such as let’s meet at the mermaid.

4. The Old Town Square Buildings Have Their Addresses on Nine Different Streets

Even though it has been a distinct square, there are nine separate addresses here. Since each corner of the square has two streets that intersect and end at the Town Square Market place.

The first numbered buildings on each corner are on each of those eight streets. All the flats facing the square have only one street address Rynek Starego Miasto (Old Town Square).

The other eight street names are Ulica Zapiecek and Ulica Swietojanska. Ulica Celna, Ulica Waski Dunaj, Ulica Jezuicka, Ulica Kamienne Schodki, Ulica Waski Dunaj, Ulica ZapiecekUlica Krzywe Kolo, Ulica Nowomiejska, Ulica Waski Dunaj, Ulica Zapiecek and Ulica ZapiecekUlica Krzywe Kolo Ulica Swietojanska.

5. There Used to be Public Execution Here

Old Town Market Square, Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Simon Burchell-

In Medieval times, this square was a place for public executions. There were public executions in the 17th and 18th centuries in the square; Konstanty Kotowski was killed for his part in the murder of Field Wincenty Gosiewski in 1662.

In 1794, the leader of the Targowica Confederation was hanged right in front of the town hall. There is no evidence of such events in the current Olt Town Square. Nowadays, the square is peaceful bereft even any protests.

6. Motorized Vehicles Aren’t Allowed into The Square

Officially Old Town Square is restricted to vehicular traffic and fines will be imposed on those who don’t observe the guidelines.

Cars and vans with special permits, such as those delivering goods to cafes, are allowed, and public services such as ambulances and police are allowed access.

7. The Warsaw Old Town Has Fantastic Places to Dine

If you want to enjoy a luxurious and very Polish meal in the heart of the old town, the U Fukiera is a good place to dine.

The restaurant is owned by Magdalena Gessler, a famous chef and journalist who conducted the Polish edition of the reality show Kitchen Nightmares and was a judge on MasterChef.

The restaurant is situated in a charming tenement house and attracts even world-famous personalities such as Claudia Schiffer.

The menu includes warm and cold starters, salads, main courses of Polish fish (salmon, crab, trout), and a variety of meats.

8. There is no Town Hall in Old Square Market Place

One of the oddest peculiarities about Old Town Square is that there is no Townhall here. This is so rare in most cities in Poland, where the town hall forms the most magnificent building and focal point of the Old Town Square.

There used to be a town hall here. Initially built in 1429, it was removed entirely in 1817 and never rebuilt. It has four sides and a clock tower but is now condemned to the history books.

9. There Square has no Church in the Old Town Square Marketplace

Poland is a catholic country and most squares throughout the country have a church. Surprisingly, there is no church in Old Town Square, arguably the country’s most important square.

Within a five-minute walk of the Old Town Square Market Place, you will find the Royal Cathedral, locally known as Bazylika Archikatedralna w Warszawie p.w Meczenstwa sw. Jana Chrzciciela and many other smaller churches.

10. The Barbican Was Built in 1548 in the Old Town

The Barbican was built in 1548, designed by an Italian Renaissance architect. In 1656 it was used in defense of the Old Town.

It gave an access gate for the Old Town and Old Town Square Marketplace. It is directly integrated into the Warsaw City Wall that surrounds the Old Town.

Nowadays, it is more a tourist attraction site than a historic monument. It hosts a permanent exhibition which makes it unique. Don’t miss out once you visit the square, and you can easily reach the Barbican from Castle Square.