Address
Stare Miasto
Bydgoszcz
Kujawsko-Pomorskie
Bydgoszcz
85-105
Poland
Although the beginnings of settling current grounds of Bydgoszcz date back to times of Roman Empire, and origins of the gard date back to first half of 11th century, it hadn’t received its town privileges until 1346 by Casimir the Great’s hand.
The modern Old Town along with Old Town Square and the surrounding streets and squares originates from locational town from 14th century.
Bydgoszcz’s Old Town includes the area of three old islands:
– Town Island – area of old locational town surrounded by Brda river and its old riverbanks, castle moat and city moat.
– Castle Island – the old gard island, on which royal castle was found.
– Mill Island – old royal island, on which objects such as windmills, lumber mill and mint were found.
A characteristic feature of Bydgoszcz’s Old Town is its picturesque location next to Brda and its two old riverbeds Młynówka and Międzywodzie, which were turned into channels in Middle Ages.
Those are the water reservoirs over which the most attractive monuments of Bydgoszcz are found: Cathedral, Granaries and riverside boulevards.
With 19th century’s beginning, Theatral Place was created north of Brda river after demolishing Carmelites’ church. Furthermore, in 1838 New Town Square, which at first served mainly as spot for military parades, was paved south of Długa street.
The period of partitions, although definitely marking the city’s growth, was also a time of devastation and pillaging objects of memory of First Commonwealth.
It is difficult to find another Polish city with the same scale of architectural mutilation during 19th century from old-Polish legacy. Dismantled locations include: city walls with gates (Kujawska, Gdańska, Poznańska), the oldest Bydgoszcz’s church of St Giles, Carmelites’ monastery complex, ruins of Casimir the Great’s castle, town hall, mint’s facilities and numerous others.
