OLD TOWN HALL OF SZCZECIN

The Old Town Hall in Szczecin (West Pomeranian Voivodeship) was erected at the Sienna Market Square, probably in the mid-15th century. The building replaced the old building made of wood, and it was erected in the mid-thirteenth century. The new town hall was originally built in the Gothic style. It most likely contained rooms intended for lay judges, a courtroom, a penitentiary and - probably - a trading room. The town hall played a significant role in the history of Poland, as it was the place where the peace congress was held in 1570, ending the First Northern War, as a result of which the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth occupied a large part of Livonia. In the 17th century it was seriously damaged during the fighting with Brandenburg and was then rebuilt in the spirit of the baroque. The building served its functions until 1879 and from 1938 until the end of World War II, when it was actually completely destroyed. The town hall was rebuilt almost from scratch in the years 1972-1975, combining elements of the Gothic and Baroque styles. At present, the building houses the Museum of the History of Szczecin.