The first thing you'll probably notice about the Town Hall (Ratusz) is that it seems to be patched together from bits and pieces of a dozen different buildings. In a way it was. Construction began in the end of the 13th century and continued - through all the changing political and artistic forces - for about 250 years. The Town Hall was the centre of city life up until the early 20th century, housing the Town Council, merchants' stalls and - most importantly - a beer cellar. The building escaped relatively unscathed after World War II (an estimated 10% was damaged). After reconstruction work, it was re-opened as the Museum of City-Dwellers' Art (Muzeum Sztuki Mieszczanskiej). Inside you can see the remarkable Gothic interiors and a collection of silver and other city artefacts. In the Treasury room, look for the new flower-shaped decorative keystones which replaced Nazi symbols installed during World War II. The most fun part of the Town Hall to explore is the elaborate exterior decoration. See if you can find scenes from Aesop's fables, or grotesque scenes of medieval pub life.

Admission 10/7zł, Wed free.

Town Hall, Museum of City Art comments

• 11
  February
  2009
  billy bob - kantucky
  io thinmk it ws good info bur not enought info for my projerct