The present Plac Wolności was the center of the city in the early centuries of Wałcz's existence. The layout of the streets of the Old Town is similar to the plans of Lübeck and Freiburg. Legend has it that this project was prepared for Wałcz, but it was stolen, and therefore both cities were built earlier than Wałcz, which was built only after the plan was recovered. The streets of the Old Town, which still exist today, started from the market square.
In the middle of the market square there used to be a wooden, two-story town hall built around 1683, and in the north-eastern part of the market there was a fire station. The proximity of the fire station, however, did not save the town hall - it burned down in 1841. The new seat of the authorities was built on the edge of the market square in 1890, the building now serves as the City Hall.
For centuries, the town square was one of the most important places in the city, it was the official, religious and commercial center, markets and fairs were held here, and shops and stalls were built around it. From time to time, the market lost its commercial function, because the place of the fair was moved to other regions, but these traditions returned. Even after the war, there was a city market here, only in the 1960s the market finally became a city square. Trees, shrubs, lawns and flower beds were planted, and benches were erected. In the years 2003 - 2004, the square was revitalized, now its appearance refers to the beginning of the 20th century. The surface was paved with cubes, a fountain appeared again, which, according to initial plans, was supposed to resemble its pre-war predecessor, but in the end it was decided that it would have the shape of a cup. A pump was placed near the fountain, masts with flags near the town hall and a stone mosaic depicting the city's coat of arms right next to them. There are also benches where you can rest while listening to the sound of the fountain. On the outskirts of the square there is a parking place for passenger cars. In the south-western frontage of the market square, pre-war tenement houses have been preserved, their ground floors serve commercial and service functions.
Translated by Google •
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