Dominican Square in Wrocław

Dominican Square is one of the main squares of Wrocław's Old Town, today dominated by the Dominikańska Gallery, though its historical shape and name have changed many times.

Where the name comes from

The original Dominican Square adjoined the southern elevation of the Dominican Church of St Adalbert, on the extension of today's Wita Stwosza street, between Błogosławionego Czesława and Klemensa Janickiego streets. This proximity to the Dominican monastery gave the square its name.

Name changes after the war

Shortly after the Second World War the German name of the square was translated as Dominican Square. In the late 1940s, however, during the Stalinist period, it was given the name of Feliks Dzierżyński. The name Dzierżyński Square then covered a much larger area than the original square, reaching as far as Oławska street and including the junction of Oławska, Piotra Skargi and Kazimierza Wielkiego streets. The historical name and boundaries were restored in 1989.

What stands on the square today

At the turn of the twenty-first century, during the construction of the Dominikańska Gallery and the Mercure Panorama hotel, the former outline of the square was approximately reconstructed. The Dominikańska Gallery itself was built in 2001 on most of the area of the former post-war Dzierżyński Square. The hotel, previously known as Panorama, was built to a standard design in the early 1970s on the eastern side of the former, enlarged square.

Nearby

From here it is close to the Market Square and the Racławice Panorama, and towards the Oder to the Tumski Bridge.

Practical information

• Location: Old Town in Wrocław, by the Dominikańska Gallery
• In residents' minds the square is also sometimes associated with the junction of Oławska, Piotra Skargi and Kazimierza Wielkiego streets, about 200 metres from its actual location
• Walking access from the Market Square towards the main railway station