Podgórze Town Hall
Kraków Monuments
The historic new town hall (magistrate) of the former Free Royal Town of Podgórze, on the Podgórze Market Square at the corner of Limanowskiego Street. The role of town hall had earlier been played by the manor house At the White Eagle, and the present building was erected in 1838-1844 after the market square was regulated. During the rebuilding of 1891-1892 the town architect Józef Kryłowski changed the facade and added a second floor with a ceremonial council chamber. On the facade you can see the coat of arms of Podgórze and a plaque dedicated to 45 legionnaires from Podgórze who died in the First World War.
History
Podgórze was once a separate town - the Free Royal Town of Podgórze. Its market square was laid out in 1785, when the town was founded, at the foot of Lasota Hill, where several roads met.
The first town hall was in the Pod Białym Orłem (White Eagle) manor house on the north side of the square, next to Limanowskiego Street. It was a residential house from the early 19th century, adapted for the needs of the town council. The second and last town hall of Podgórze was built after the square was redesigned, and it stands on the corner of Rynek Podgórski and Limanowskiego Street.
The building owes its present appearance to a rebuilding in 1891-1892. Józef Kryłowski, Podgórze's town architect, changed the façade and added a second floor, which housed a grand council chamber. Much of the original furnishing survives inside, including items from the Podgórze Town Council chamber. The coat of arms of Podgórze crowns the façade, and a plaque on the wall commemorates 45 legionnaires from Podgórze who died in the First World War.
In 1993-1997 the building was renovated and adapted for city offices. Today it houses the Housing Department of Kraków City Hall, as well as the Council and Board of District XIII Podgórze.
Did you know?
On the same square, in the Pod Czarnym Orłem (Black Eagle) manor house, there was once an inn. In July 1829 Fryderyk Chopin stayed there.