Old Town Hall in Toruń

In the heart of Toruń, a city renowned for its medieval architecture and rich history, stands the magnificent Old Town Hall. Known locally as Ratusz Staromiejski w Toruniu, this Gothic masterpiece is not just a building but a testament to the city's storied past. The Old Town Hall is one of the most splendid examples of medieval bourgeois architecture in Central Europe, and it serves as the main seat of the District Museum in Toruń.

The History of Old Town Hall in Toruń

The Old Town Hall in Toruń has a history that dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Originally, it was a complex of buildings that gradually evolved over time. The first structure, a merchant's house housing the cloth hall (domus forensis), was likely constructed on the site of the current western wing based on a privilege granted by the Prussian Master Gerhard von Hirzberg in April 1259. Another privilege from 1274 allowed for the construction of a tower and bread stalls on the site of today's eastern wing. By the late 13th century, the marketplace was composed of two elongated, parallel buildings connected by curtain walls, with a tower adjacent to the bread stalls. The tower was expanded in 1385, and a clock was installed between 1385 and 1415.

The present form of the Old Town Hall is largely due to a significant Gothic building project initiated in 1391. The building, which was completed before 1399, combined administrative, commercial, and judicial functions in a single structure, a unique solution in Europe at the time. The four-winged building forms a rectangle measuring 43.7 by 52.4 meters, with an inner courtyard accessible through gates in each wing. The tower, inspired by Flemish belfries, was topped with a high Gothic spire in 1593, becoming a distinctive element of the city's skyline.

Architectural Evolution

The Old Town Hall underwent a Mannerist renovation between 1602 and 1605, initiated by Mayor Henryk Stroband and designed by Antoni van Obberghen. The building was raised by one floor, and its interiors were adorned with new fireplaces and portals, likely crafted by the Gdańsk-based van den Blocke family. The ceiling, funded in 1602-1603, featured paintings depicting social, religious, and educational reforms promoted by Stroband.

In 1703, a fire caused by Swedish troops during the city's siege severely damaged the town hall, destroying almost all interior decorations, the clock, and the gables. The building remained roofless until 1722. Reconstruction efforts took place between 1722-1728 and 1735-1738, with a new clock installed by Toruń master Abraham Willow in 1728. The 18th century also saw proposals for a Baroque-style renovation by Jan Baptyście Cocchi, though these plans were never fully realized.

The 19th century brought further changes, including the replacement of a Baroque risalit with a Neo-Gothic one in 1869 and the remodeling of some interiors. During World War II, German architect Hans Döllgast designed new interiors for the town hall. The 20th century saw significant restoration and adaptation efforts, transforming the building into a museum while preserving its historical elements.

Exploring the Old Town Hall

Visitors to the Old Town Hall in Toruń will find themselves immersed in a rich tapestry of history and architecture. The building's layout, with its rectangular plan and internal courtyard, is a marvel of medieval design. The four wings, each with its own gate, create a sense of symmetry and balance, while the tower, inspired by Flemish belfries, adds a vertical element that draws the eye upward.

On the ground floor, the eastern wing housed the rich stalls and bread stalls, while the western wing contained the cloth hall. The northern wing features the former courtroom, and the southern wing likely housed the city scales. Many of these rooms are vaulted, with the bread stalls featuring cross-ribbed vaults and the cloth hall, scales, and courtroom showcasing triple-support vaults. The outer sections of each wing were occupied by rows of small shops, originally open to the outside and unconnected to the rest of the ground-floor rooms, necessitating a unique lighting solution with windows placed above the vaults of the shops.

Highlights and Exhibitions

The first floor served as the town's representative space, housing the Council Hall where the City Council met. The hall's rich decoration from 1602-1603, destroyed in the 1703 fire, included wall paneling with paintings by Gdańsk painter Anton Möller and a painted ceiling. The largest room on this floor, the Great Hall, hosted significant city events, including royal receptions and assemblies of the Royal Prussian States. In 1645, it was the venue for the Colloquium charitativum, a dialogue between Protestants and Catholics. The Royal Hall, located in the northeast corner, is notable as the place where King John Albert died on June 17, 1501. Many wooden portals and doors from the 18th-century reconstruction, decorated with inlays, have been preserved on this floor.

The second floor, added during the 1602-1603 renovation, served as an armory and library. The town hall tower houses four modern bells, including two clock bells from 1728 and 1728/1729, and two others from 1648 and 1729, originally intended for an evangelical church.

The Museum and Its Collections

Today, the Old Town Hall is home to the main branch of the District Museum in Toruń. The museum's exhibits include the Gothic Art Gallery, featuring unique 14th-century stained glass, and displays on the history of Toruń and its artistic crafts from 1233-1793. The Great Hall houses a gallery of portraits of Toruń's burghers, while the Royal Hall features Poland's oldest portrait gallery of Polish kings. Other exhibits include the Mint and Toruń Coins (1233/1238-1765) and collections of jewelry from Skrwilno. The museum also boasts a gallery of Polish paintings from the mid-18th century to 2010, with works by renowned artists such as Jan Matejko, Wojciech Gerson, and Jacek Malczewski.

In conclusion, the Old Town Hall in Toruń is not just a historical building; it is a living museum that offers a window into the city's past. Its Gothic architecture, rich history, and diverse exhibits make it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the medieval charm of Toruń.