Old Market Square in Koło

The Old Market Square in Koło is the oldest and central square of the city, measuring 75 by 100 meters, with a 16th-century town hall at its center. The history of the square dates back to when Koło was granted town rights in 1362, when a wooden bailiff's court stood here. In the 16th century, a monumental town hall with a high Gothic tower was built, which was reconstructed in the Neoclassical style in the first half of the 19th century. Unfortunately, in 1987, the tower was destroyed, causing significant damage to the building, and reconstruction lasted until 2008. After the city's redevelopment in 1824, the square became a rectangular center, with streets radiating in all directions, reflecting a turbine-like street layout. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, tenement houses were built around the Old Market Square, two of which are now historical monuments. The square changed names throughout different historical periods; before 1939, it was named after Józef Piłsudski, during the German occupation it was renamed Adolf-Hitler-Platz, and in the 1950s, it was called PZPR Square, until its historical name was restored in 1989. The Old Market Square in Koło, with its rich history and architecture, is a significant cultural and urban landmark of the city.