It was marked out in the
middle of the sixteenth century as the main market square in Oświęcim.
On frontages of market was wooden buildings. Layout of the land, in many
cases, is in line with the current architecture. It is known that in
the sixteenth century the storied town hall was built, but the buildings
around the market were still wooden. In the middle of the market,
according to the account of Jan Nepomucen Gątkowski, there was a storey
town hall with a clock. The market was surrounded by the three houses,
the figure of St. Jan Niepomucen and deep town well. On the market, next
to the town hall there was also the little pond, which was used during
fires. In the second half of the nineteenth century, after two fires,
buildings on the market were rebuilt, mostly from brick.
During World War II, the market has been partially
rebuilt by the Germans. Street arcades at Plebańska str. and on the
corner of the former Hotel "Herz" forms partially realized part of the
project a comprehensive redevelopment of the market. At that time the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and figure of St. Jan Niepomucen have been
removed from the market. Also the trees planted in the interwar period,
were cut. Revitalization works made on the market square during 2012-13
give the opportunity to see the history of the town through showing and
backlighting walls of town hall from sixteen century and restoration
pre-war municipal well.
