The Golden Crown Tenement House in Wrocław

The Golden Crown Tenement, known as Haus zur Goldenen Krone, is a historic building located in Wrocław's Market Square, representing one of the earliest examples of Silesian Renaissance architecture. Its history dates back to the 15th century, when a wine tavern operated on the site in 1471. The building underwent significant transformations between 1521 and 1528 under the direction of merchant Johan von Holtz, who commissioned Italian architect Vincenzio da Parmataro for the project. The renovated structure featured a distinctive rectangular layout, four stories, and intricately decorated façades, including an ornately carved portal that was relocated during the reconstruction. In the following years, the tenement was expanded, and by the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, it was merged with adjacent houses. The façade remained richly adorned with polychrome paintings until the end of the 17th century. In the 19th century, the building housed a social club (resursa) and a bank. In 1904, the tenement was demolished to make way for a modern Art Nouveau-style department store named Goldene Krone, which stood until its destruction during World War II. After the war, only the durable structural elements remained briefly, and the ground floor was quickly repurposed for shops and services. Between 1957 and 1960, the building was reconstructed to resemble its original form, complete with a new portal. Today, the tenement houses offices and a bank, with its architecture still reflecting the Venetian style of Pietro Lombardo, underscoring its historical significance and Wrocław's rich cultural heritage. An interesting detail is the incorporation of ceramic decorations into the façade in the 1950s, including a golden crown, paying homage to the building’s original name.