Lwów Eaglets Square

Lwów Eaglets Square lies in Wrocław, in the area of the former Przedmieście Mikołajskie, within the boundaries of the former Stare Miasto district. In practice this is not one square but two irregularly shaped squares which together form one of the city's more important transport hubs - Braniborska, Józefa Piłsudskiego, Podwale, Robotnicza, Sokolnicza and Tęczowa streets converge here, and since 2021 trams have run through it.

How the square came about

The square arose in connection with the building of railway stations in this part of the city: Wrocław Świebodzki (1842-1843) and the Lower Silesian Railway Station, also known as the Marchian Station (1844). Between 1868 and 1874 the Świebodzki station was rebuilt. During the siege of Wrocław in 1945, much of the surrounding development was destroyed - of the four stations, only Świebodzki station and a small fragment of the Lower Silesian station building survived.

Changes of name

The square's name changed along with the city's history: until 1861 a fragment operated as Magazinstrasse, then as Berliner Platz (until July 1935), Elfer Platz (until 1945), Plac Braniborski (until December 1951) and Plac Sergiusza Kirowa (until July 1990). It has borne its present name, Lwów Eaglets Square, since 1990.

What stands on the square today

The main landmark remains Wrocław Świebodzki station - the only one of the four former stations to survive to this day, with a palace-style architecture combining Italian Renaissance and late Classicist elements. Since 1991 the building has been out of railway use, and the site of the former station is sometimes used as a periodic market. Nearby, a fragment of the Marchian Station survives. A newer feature of the square is the office building of the European Leasing Fund, erected from 2000 onwards. A fountain also stands on the square, originally meant to help reduce air pollution.

A footbridge over the tracks

A 44-metre pedestrian footbridge connects the square with the Promenada Staromiejska. It officially bears the name Kładka Radiowej Trójki (Radio Trójka Footbridge), though Wrocław residents more often call it the "dog footbridge".

From here it is not far to the city centre - on foot you can reach the Market Square and the neighbouring Market Hall in a dozen or so minutes.

Practical information

• Location: Wrocław, area of the former Przedmieście Mikołajskie, by Wrocław Świebodzki station
• Getting there: trams and buses running along Piłsudskiego, Podwale and Robotnicza streets
• What to expect: a junction of several streets with the historic former station building, with no dedicated tourist infrastructure