Wrocław Town Hall

The Old Town Hall (Polish: Stary Ratusz, German: Breslauer Rathaus) of Wrocław stands at the center of the city’s Market Square (rynek).

The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction.

The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59).

The ground floor was allocated for military purposes and the general public had access only to the basement, where alcohol was served.

The courts moved to a separate building, and the Town Hall became the site of the city council and supporting functions.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902.

Toward the end of World War II, the Town Hall suffered minor damage – an aerial bomb pierced the roof (but did not explode) and some sculptural elements were lost.

Today, the Old Town Hall is open to visitors as the Museum of Bourgeois Art[2] and is also the venue for temporary exhibitions and cultural events.

Here, important city decisions were made and you can find a Renaissance portal from 1528, probably painted by Andreas Walter.

Until 1945, this room was richly decorated but some of the elements, such as wood paneling, furniture, and paintings, have been irretrievably lost.