The Town Square (Freedom Square) in Wałcz

What is now Freedom Square served as the city center during the early centuries of Wałcz’s existence. The street layout of the Old Town bears a resemblance to the plans of Lübeck and Freiburg. Legend has it that this design was originally prepared for Wałcz but was stolen; as a result, both of those cities were founded before Wałcz, which was not built until the plan was recovered. The streets of the Old Town, which still exist today, radiated out from the market square. Its southeastern edge adjoined a trade route that had run through the area even before the town was established. On the other side of the trade route was the church square, where Wałcz’s first church was erected. That church burned down in 1378, and each subsequent one was built on the same site.

In the very center of the market square once stood a wooden, two-story town hall built around 1683, while a fire station was located in the northeastern part of the square. However, the proximity of the fire station did not save the town hall—it burned down in 1841. A new seat of government was built on the edge of the market square in 1890; this building currently serves as City Hall.

For centuries, the town square was one of the most important places in the city; it served as an administrative, religious, and commercial center, where fairs and markets were held, and small shops and stalls were built around it. From time to time, the square lost its commercial function as market venues were moved to other regions, but these traditions eventually returned. Even after the war, there was still a municipal market here; it was not until the 1960s that the square finally became a public park. Trees, shrubs, lawns, and flower beds were planted, and benches were installed. Between 2003 and 2004, the square underwent revitalization; today, its appearance evokes the early 20th century. The surface was paved with cobblestones, and a fountain was reinstalled; according to the initial plans, its design was meant to somewhat resemble its pre-war predecessor, but it was ultimately decided that it would take the shape of a chalice. A water pump was installed near the fountain; flagpoles stand near the town hall, and right next to them is a stone mosaic depicting the city’s coat of arms. There are also benches where visitors can rest while listening to the sound of the fountain. On the outskirts of the square, space has been set aside for passenger car parking. On the southwestern side of the market square, pre-war tenement houses have been preserved; their ground floors serve commercial and service functions.