Tenement House Under the Old Gallows in Wrocław

The Pod Starą Szubienicą Tenement House, located in Wrocław's Market Square, has a rich history dating back to the first decade of the 14th century. Its name derives from the gallows that once stood nearby. Over the centuries, the tenement underwent numerous transformations. In the early 16th century, the building was raised to four stories and acquired a Renaissance character, thanks to a renovation commissioned by its then-owner, Nikolaus Beyer, who brought in Italian artists to create lunette vaulting and richly carved portals. In the following centuries, it changed hands multiple times, including ownership by influential families such as the Krappfs and Kirchlers, as well as merchants like Hans Leffler and Peter Krig. In the 19th century, the tenement became the property of the Jewish Immerwahr family, known for their textile trade and cultural contributions, including the opera singer Ottilie Immerwahr and the science pioneer Clara Immerwahr-Haber. The tenement was destroyed during World War II, and its reconstruction took place from 1953 to 1960, drawing inspiration from the Renaissance-Baroque style of the early 17th century, albeit in a simplified form. The reconstruction project was carried out by a team of architects from Lviv and Wrocław, using both historical and new building materials. Today, the tenement houses the Cesarsko-Królewska restaurant, having previously been home to the Herbowa tea room and the Can Can venue. An interesting fact is that the tenement's cellars reached a depth of 28 meters, which has intrigued researchers studying its history. As a site with a rich architectural and cultural heritage, the tenement continues to play an important role in Wrocław's urban landscape.