Wroclaw

Monopol

  ul. Modrzejewskiej 2 ,   Old Town          (+48) 71 772 37 77     more than a year ago
Standing proudly on the former site of a 14th-century Franciscan church & monastery, illustrious banker Wallenberg-Pachaly and architect Karol Grosser tore down the crumbling ruins in 1890 and built a neo-Baroque hotel and neo-Renaissance trading house here, officially opening it as the 'Hotel Monopol' in 1892. The decades that followed saw the Monopol become the most famous hotel in town with Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich and Pablo Picasso all using it to rest their heads – the latter was in town for the 'International Congress of Intellectuals in Defence of Peace,' and painted ‘Dove of Peace’ in his room. Hitler also stayed here, making a speech from the balcony of room 113, which was specially constructed for the occasion, while Zbigniew Cybulski - the Polish James Dean - shot several movie scenes in the hotel. Unique features abounded including a glass-roofed ballroom and an Art Deco style restaurant, added in 1928, complete with plush, dark wood carvings.
The Monopol's Sky Bar - one of two open-air terrace bars the hotel features.

WWII saw the building take a battering though it eventually reopened under the stewardship of Orbis. Room 112 was typical of communist PRL style, while room 121 could tout an extra sturdy bed originally ordered to allow German Chancellor Helmut Kohl the chance to rest without fear of the bed buckling under his portly frame. Under communism the restaurant was to become known as the most exclusive in Wrocław, with queues stretching outside the revolving doors and teams of bellboys shooing away anyone not wearing a tie. Menus and cutlery would frequently disappear into the pockets of souvenir hunters and the restaurant's reputation as a masterpiece was widely acknowledged.
 
Swimming pool at the Monopol in Wrocław.

Closed in 2006 and sold to the Likus Hotel & Restaurants Group, the Monopol was thoroughly renovated and reopened in 2009. Rooms are immaculately decorated with turn-of-the-century antiques, and the building features two fabulous restaurants (Acquario and Monopol), as well as two seasonal rooftop terrace bars (Taras Bar 13 and Sky Bar). Once more the most exclusive and luxurious hotel in town, with a full five stars pinned on its epaulettes, if you can afford to sleep in this historic locale you'll find that the experience is worth the money. 121 rooms come furnished with turn-of-the century antiques, including 14 exquisite suites. In addition to top business facilities, Monopol is home to one of the most enticing spa and wellness centres in Wrocław (see Leisure); add to the package terrace and rooftop bars and restaurants above exclusive boutique retail spaces and this legend is alive and living well. Are you?

Website

Social Links:

Amenities

Air-conditioning
Facilities for disabled
Dogs Allowed
Restaurant
Conference facilities
Swimming pool
Sauna
Fitness centre
Wellness

Comments

Connect via social media
google sign in button
Leave a comment using your email This e-mail address is not valid
Please enter your name*

Please share your location

Enter your message*
27.08.2009
Keith

I had really bad service here. I went to the rooftop cafe and they ignored me for a long time before I had to get up and get them to wait on me. If this is an example of 5-star serice in Wroclaw, then it is NOT worth it. I needed a place to stay for my last night in Poland and I almost splurged on this hotel but after my treatment here and then at the front desk, I decided to go with a 4-star hotel instead. The front desk staff were dressed in their regular street clothes and 3 of them were just hanging out and chatting with each other. NOT my idea of a 5-star hotel staff at all. They looked like part-time working high school students hanging out at the Gap. I'm used to the Ritz Carlton in Osaka and the Four Seasons hotels so I guess I had higher expectations than I should have had. If they took away one star, it would all make sense...
Put our app in your pocket
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more here. AGREE
Top