Franciszkański Square

Franciszkański Square lies in Wrocław within the Old Town, between Świętej Doroty, Franciszkańska and Zamkowa Streets. Until the 19th century the site belonged to a monastic estate; today it is a small, intimate square by two buildings with centuries of history, a church and a school.

Origin of the name

The square's name comes from the Franciscans, that is the Friars Minor also called Minorites, who took over the church standing here in 1530. Earlier, in German times, the place was called Minoritenhof, meaning the courtyard of the Minorites.

A church that changed friars

The Church of St Stanislaus, St Dorothy and St Wenceslaus was founded in 1351 by Emperor Charles IV. Initially the church belonged to the Augustinian Hermits, and only in 1530 did it pass under the management of the Franciscans. The main entrance faces Świętej Doroty Street, and the facade is decorated with a neo-Gothic portal. The building was entered on the heritage register in 1947 and again in 1962. After secularisation in the 19th century, a prison was set up on part of the former monastery grounds.

The school by the square

On the northern side of the square stands the John Paul II School Complex of the Salesian Sisters. A presbytery built around 1890 has also survived next to the church.

Nearby

The square adjoins the representative part of the Old Town. From here it is very close to the Wrocław Opera House and the Town Hall, and you can also walk to the Market Square.

Practical information

• Location: Wrocław, Old Town, between Świętej Doroty, Franciszkańska and Zamkowa Streets
• Getting there: on foot from the Market Square, right next to the Wrocław Opera House
• What to expect: an intimate square by a church, with no food outlets or tourist infrastructure