New Town Market Place, Warsaw

North side of the square

New Town Market Place (Polish: Rynek Nowego Miasta) is the main square of the Warsaw New Town of Warsaw, Poland.

It was formed before 1408, as the main square of the Warsaw New Town. It had initially a rectangular shape, with area of 140 x 120 metres. In the 15th century a wooden town hall has been built in the centre of the square. Residential buildings were also constructed. In 1544 the square was damaged by fire, and the town hall was reconstructed as bricked. The rest of the buildings remained wooden.^[1] In 1656 the square was burned down by Swedes, during the Deluge. The reconstruction was slow, and the town hall was built again in 1680. In 1688 the Baroque Saint Kazimierz Church was built by Dutch architect Tylman van Gameren. In the second half of the 18th century, wooden residential buildings have been replaced by bricked tenement houses. In 1785, the town hall was partially reconstructed and several shops have been added to its vicinity. In 1818 the town hall has been torn down, and the square gained its market character, which persisted until 1878.^[1] Since then, the buildings on the square were expanded and reconstructed to house growing number of craftsmen and workers. In 1932 the staute of Saint Klemens Hofbauer was placed on the square.

In World War II, during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the square was completely destroyed, 80% of houses were completely demolished, including the church.^[1] After the war, the square was reconstructed in the 18th century style. A 19th century well was located in the southern part of the square. The reconstruction lasted until 1955.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Rynek Nowego Miasta at the official website of Śródmieście district

Coordinates: 52°15′10″N 21°0′29″E / 52.25278°N 21.00806°E / 52.25278; 21.00806