The Old Town Area

In Myślibórz, the historic, 13th-century layout of the Old Town has survived to the present day. Its origins date back to the 6th century B.C. At that time, a Lusatian culture settlement was built on the hill known as Winnica Tumska (Łysa Góra), overlooking what is now Lake Myśliborskie. A fishing village sprang up at its foot. At the same location, at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries CE, there was a Slavic stronghold called Żołdyń (Sołtyń, Soldin, or Słodzin), which survived until the 12th century. The event that shaped the city’s current appearance was the granting of city rights between 1262 and 1270. At that time, a distinctive oval street grid—still clearly visible today—was laid out, featuring a main thoroughfare (now Bohaterów Warszawy Street) and a centrally located market square. On the market square, now named after John Paul II, the seat of the municipal authorities was erected—the town hall that has been preserved to this day. Shortly after receiving its charter, the town was surrounded by a wall with gates and towers. The townspeople, who grew wealthy from the fairs held in the town, built stately houses, which, unfortunately, have not survived to the present day. At the height of its development, Myślibórz was a venue for estates’ assemblies and courts, and it had its own system of weights and measures as well as the right to mint coins. In 1433, the town’s development was halted when it was captured and burned by the Hussites. Further destruction was inflicted in 1473 by Bogusław X, Duke of West Pomerania. In the 16th century, Myślibórz was ravaged by massive fires, and in the 17th and 18th centuries, by the Thirty Years’ War and the Seven Years’ War. Although the town managed to recover each time, its energy was directed toward reconstruction rather than development. Consequently, Myślibórz did not play a leading role in the region’s history. It was not until the launch of rail connections with Kostrzyn, Stargard Szczeciński, Barlinek, and Gorzów Wielkopolski that the town’s status improved somewhat. Unfortunately, as a result of World War II, nearly 40% of Myślibórz was destroyed. The entire Old Town complex has been entered into the register of historic monuments.