The Old Town Hall

In belongs to the most outstanding achievements of medieval architecture in Europe. Stands right in the middle of Torun's Old Town Square, the Old Town Hall has very iteresting history. It's beginning is dated back to the XIII century, which is the time of the greater development of the city. As we can find out from documents, the Hall was constructed in stages. At firs, in 1259 only a merchant house, bread benches and a cloth hall were built. It wasn't even one building, but a complex. Than, about 1274 a tower and first town hall were added. On may, 1393 the city was granted the privilege by the Great Master of the Teutonic Order Konrad Wallenrod to build a new city hall. All but the tower from previous buildings was pulled down. A new Old Town Hall was probably build by Master Andreas. It had one floor, a courtyard and it's tower was raised to the present 40 meters height. In 1602 on the initiative of the Torun's major, Henryk Stoband, the Old Town Hall was rebuilt. The work was carries out by William Marten, according to the project of Anthony won Obbergen, Flemmish architect. The new decorative elements were added, thus Hall's historical gothic forms were preserved. One floor was constructed and windows openings were replaced by windows with stone frames. During the Swedish siege, in 1703 the Town Hall was burned down. Following the fire, because of general crisis in the country, rebuilding took numbers of years. Finally, reconstruction was completed in 1737, giving The Town Hall present appearence.