The Old Town Hall, Olsztyn, Poland
It stands in the center of the Old Town Market Square and originally served as the seat of the city authorities. The oldest part of the building, the southern wing, dates back to around 1500 and was likely built on the site of an earlier structure from the late 14th century, following Olsztyn receiving city rights. The building was destroyed by fire in 1620 but was quickly rebuilt in 1623-24, during which it was enlarged and a turret was added, giving it a more Baroque style. The basement and ground floor were converted into a market hall.
In 1825, the building became a courthouse, and due to expanding judicial needs, the city council had to leave the town hall in 1829. The council returned in 1880 but stayed only until 1915 when it moved to a new town hall. The Old Town Hall then housed the School of Commerce and the Municipal Public Library. During the Nazi era, the building was occupied by the Hitlerjugend.
After the Red Army took control of the city in 1945, the Old Town Hall was burned down. It was rebuilt between 1946 and 1949 but without the turret and some key architectural features. These were restored only during a major renovation from 1996 to 2003, restoring the Gothic look of the southern wing. Today, the building is a three-winged structure with a courtyard enclosed by an arcade with a glass roof. All wings are two stories high, with the southern and northern wings also having usable attics. Notable features include sundials on the southern elevation, which attract many tourists. Currently, the entire building functions as the Voivodeship Public Library.
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Eneko Lacalle Berasategi
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