Welcome to Piotrków Trybunalski! If you’re looking for a place with a remarkable history, where literally every corner seems to tell its own story, then you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re taking you on a special walk around the Old Town in Piotrków Trybunalski – its beating heart. It is here, among the charming, historic tenement houses and atmospheric streets, that you’ll feel the true pulse of this city, which for centuries played a key role in the history of our country. We’ll discover together the secrets of its foundation, admire the wonderful architecture (it’s really worth it!) and find out why Piotrków’s Old Town is so remarkable.

History of the Old Town: from the Middle Ages to the Present Day

The history of the Old Town in Piotrków Trybunalski is a captivating journey through the ages. From the first traces of settlement, through its heyday linked to the operation of the Crown Tribunal, right up to the present day, this area of the city constantly serves as a living testament to its rich past. The remains of the old walls and the preserved urban layout are a reminder of Piotrków’s strategic, considerable importance throughout history.

Beginnings of Settlement and the Town’s Charter

The beginnings of settlement in the area of present-day Piotrków date back, as suggested by the latest historical research, perhaps even to the 8th century AD. Furthermore, in the 11th century, a rather thriving centre of ducal estates might have operated here, which even then testified to the place’s certain standing. However, the 13th century proved crucial for the town’s actual development. It was precisely then that highly important assemblies of the nobility and clergy for Poland at that time began to take place in Piotrków. Piotrków’s location, flanked to the east and north by the small river Strawa, and to the south by the Strawka, naturally favoured its defensibility. Although the exact date of the town’s charter, I must confess, is still not precisely known, it is certainly known that the charter documents, i.e., the granting of town rights, were confirmed by King Władysław Jagiełło himself in 1404. Furthermore, it is presumed that the construction of the town’s defensive walls may have begun during the reign of Casimir the Great. These fortifications, substantially supplemented with towers, were completed by the end of the 14th century. The town was then surrounded by gates: the Wolborska Gate to the east, the Sieradzka Gate located to the west, roughly where the present-day Sieradzka Street is, and the Krakowska Gate to the south, where Krakowska Przedmieście Street runs today. The existence of Nowe Miasto Street in the current layout clearly suggests that the town was originally smaller and at some point in its history expanded its boundaries, which, incidentally, was typical for many medieval centres.

Development of Piotrków and the Significance of the Crown Tribunal – Why ‘Trybunalski’?

The Market Square naturally became the heart of the developing town, and the existence of a town hall within its area was confirmed as early as the mid-16th century. Piotrków developed dynamically, eventually becoming the largest urban complex in the entire Sieradz Voivodeship. However, its unique significance in Polish history is primarily linked to the Crown Tribunal, which was the highest court of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The sessions of the Crown Tribunal took place precisely in Piotrków, hearing cases from Greater Poland, Mazovia, Kuyavia, and even Royal Prussia. For nearly 200 years, you can imagine, the Crown Tribunal was based here, which, of course, permanently gave the town the nickname ‘Trybunalski’. Interestingly, at one point, the municipal authorities moved to the wójt’s (vogt’s) tenement house on the eastern side of the Market Square, which testified to the dynamic changes in the town’s governance structure. Piotrków was also a place where the Sejm (Parliament) frequently convened, and important assemblies of the nobility took place, which only further elevated its standing, wouldn’t you say?

Piotrków’s Significance During the Partitions and the Town’s Later Fate

The period of the Partitions of Poland was extremely difficult for many towns, and Piotrków certainly lost much of its significance then, that’s a fact. Although, looking objectively, its Old Town survived this turbulent time relatively better compared to other Polish centres that experienced serious decline and extensive destruction in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nevertheless, in 1816, almost half of the tenement houses standing by the Market Square were damaged and simply uninhabited, which gives some idea of the scale of the problem. The defensive walls and town gates were systematically dismantled between 1817 and 1824, leaving only small fragments, mainly near the Dominican and Jesuit monasteries – that’s how it often was with old fortifications, unfortunately. In 1868, the old town hall was also dismantled, which for many was probably a symbolic end to a certain era. The town gained a certain, let’s say, impetus for development only in 1867, when the Piotrków Governorate was established with its capital in Piotrków. At that time, a new town centre began to emerge, located to the west of the historic Old Town, slightly shifting its axis.

Architecture and Monuments of the Old Town

Walking around Piotrków’s Old Town, you can truly be captivated by its historic urban layout, which, interestingly, took shape as early as the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries and to this day holds, one could say, national significance. The entire Old Town was rightly entered into the register of monuments maintained by the National Heritage Institute. Conservation protection covers not only the spatial layout itself, but also the street lines, building scale, type of development, and even the layout of the facades, which in itself testifies to its immense historical and architectural value. Interestingly, brick houses constituted a significant percentage of the town’s buildings as early as the end of the 18th century, which, as my historian friend says, distinguished Piotrków from many other less developed centres in Poland at that time.

The Trybunalski Market Square and the Surrounding Tenement Houses – Heart of the Old Town

The central and probably most important point of the Old Town is, of course, the Trybunalski Market Square, a spacious, impressive square surrounded by historic tenement houses. Most of these buildings have, thankfully, been carefully renovated and refurbished in recent years, often with support from European Funds (which is plain to see!). On the ground floors of many tenement houses are now lively restaurants, cafes, and various shops, giving the Market Square a pleasantly lively, contemporary character. The facades of the tenement houses, often in the Neoclassical style and dating mainly from the 19th century, are a testament to the numerous reconstructions and renovations that took place after destructive fires and other damage. It’s worth noting that even in the early 20th century, some houses by the Market Square had characteristic, charming arcades, which unfortunately we can no longer see in their original form today.

St. James Parish Church and Other Churches of the Old Town – A Spiritual Centre?

One of the most important sacred monuments in the Old Town is undoubtedly the Gothic St. James Parish Church, whose origins date back, if my memory serves me correctly, as far as the 14th century. It is a building of immense historical and architectural value, which has been entered into the list of representative and priority monuments for the entire Łódź Voivodeship – that’s saying something! Next to the parish church there were once (imagine!) a cemetery, the parsonage, and even a parish school building, thus creating a coherent, though now non-existent, parish complex. On the other side of Farna Street, which was formerly known by the simpler name Kościelna, stands a brick belfry, built in the 15th century, which is an integral part of this historic parish church complex. You simply must see it.

Important Sacred and Secular Buildings in Piotrków’s Old Town

Piotrków’s Old Town is a true hub of historic buildings, both sacred and secular. Many buildings from this area have been entered into the register of monuments, including:

• The Dominican Convent complex, which includes the Church of Our Lady of the Snow, built, if memory serves me right, in 1627. The Dominican Convent was expanded over the years right next to the church.
• The Dominican Monastery complex, with the Church of St. Hyacinth and St. Dorothy, which according to tradition was founded by King Casimir the Great himself as early as the first half of the 15th century and is currently located on Wojska Polskiego Street (which was formerly called Dominikańska, which is hardly surprising, incidentally).
• The Jesuit Monastery complex (also featuring on the list of priority monuments for the Łódź Voivodeship), with the monumental Church of St. Francis Xavier, built by the Jesuits between 1701 and 1727. This church, stylistically resembling the famous Poznań Parish Church, contains wonderful polychromy from the first half of the 18th century and a renowned image of the Mother of God with Child, widely known as Our Lady of Trybunalski, which was solemnly crowned by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. A Collegium (College) was also established next to the Jesuit complex (between 1754 and 1803), which currently, in a wonderful example of continuing tradition, houses the I General Secondary School. The former college of the Jesuits and Piarists, known as Collegium Novum, also currently serves as a secondary school, educating young people.
• The Piarist Monastery complex, located on Rwańska Street, where the church and monastic college were originally built. Unfortunately, after a fire, the Piarists left their buildings. The role of the former Piarist temple was taken over by the Baroque Evangelical-Augsburg Church, erected in 1718, which still stands on Rwańska Street today. Interestingly, the buildings of the former Piarist Fathers’ college housed a prison for many years, which served its function until 2003. Currently, part of this building, rather surprisingly, houses the Stary Areszt Shopping Arcade, containing shops and restaurants – it just goes to show how places can change their character!

Besides the impressive monastery/convent complexes and churches, in the Old Town and its immediate vicinity you will also find other interesting buildings, such as historic burgher tenement houses. By Stefan Czarniecki Square (colloquially known as Czarniecki Square), located near the Trybunalski Market Square, stands, for example, a charming 18th-century burgher tenement house, which once belonged to the respected Grabowski family and is now the headquarters of the PTTK – a great place to start your sightseeing, by the way. Monasteries of other orders also existed within the Old Town and its vicinity, e.g., the Bernardines, although not all have survived to this day in their original form.

What Remains of the Old Town Walls? Preserved Fragments

Although the vast majority of the town’s defensive walls were unfortunately dismantled at the beginning of the 19th century, specifically between 1817 and 1824, you can still, if you look carefully, find preserved fragments of them. The largest remnants of the town walls dating from the 14th and 15th centuries have been preserved, rather symptomatically, near the Dominican and Jesuit monasteries/convents – where there was a need for additional defence. However, these small, modest sections are an extremely valuable testament to the medieval fortifications that once surrounded the old town, protecting its inhabitants and this important centre of power. (It’s a bit of a shame so little remains).

A Walk Around the Old Town: Key Places and Attractions

The best, and indeed probably the only sensible way to truly discover Piotrków Trybunalski’s Old Town is simply to take a leisurely stroll. Allow these winding streets and historic architecture to take you on a fascinating journey into the past. The Old Town effectively begins as early as Sieradzka Street, which essentially leads directly to the main Market Square – convenient, wouldn’t you agree?

Suggested Walking Route: Trybunalski Market Square – Grodzka Street – Rwańska Street

We suggest starting your visit, naturally, from the Trybunalski Market Square, to immediately soak up the atmosphere of the former centre. From here, you can head, as the name suggests, along Grodzka Street, one of the historic and important thoroughfares of the old town. Then turn onto Rwańska Street, where other equally interesting places and tenement houses await you. Walking this, let’s say, mini-route allows you to take in the key points of the Old Town and see its varied faces, from the prominent Market Square to the more intimate and charming alleys. It’s definitely worth doing.

The Most Interesting Streets and Alleys of the Old Town – Where to Get Lost?

Besides the main, more obvious streets, Piotrków’s Old Town hides many truly charming alleys and lesser-known streets. Streets such as Konarskiego (once known as Łazienna Sucha), Łazienna Mokra, Pijarska, Rycerska, and Szewska (although their names have changed over the centuries, as in the case of Rycerska and Szewska, which have, as it were, ‘swapped’ their old names) have their own unique, distinct character. It’s particularly worth paying attention to Farna Street (formerly called Kościelna), where commemorative plaques featuring the coats of arms of the former Piotrków crafts guilds have been set into the wall, thus commemorating all those craftsmen who, after all, played a significant, indeed crucial, role in the creation of the town. Sections of Starowarszawska, Wojska Polskiego, and Zamkowa Streets also formally constitute part of the Old Town area.

Viewpoints for the Town Panorama – Where to See from Above?

If you’re looking for a place from which you can admire a nice, wide panorama of Piotrków Trybunalski, be sure to head to the Royal Castle. It’s a small, brick castle, and from its windows, particularly from the upper floors, you can see quite a beautiful panorama of the Old Town, which allows you to view its historic spatial layout from a completely different, interesting perspective.

Culture and Life in the Old Town – Is it Just History?

Piotrków’s Old Town is not just a collection of monuments, but also, and perhaps above all, a vibrant cultural and social centre. It’s a place where history naturally meets modernity, offering visitors a variety of attractions – from museums to, crucially, atmospheric restaurants and cafes.

Places Worth Visiting: Museums, Galleries, Restaurants

In Piotrków’s Old Town and its immediate vicinity, you’ll find several really interesting places to visit. The Royal Castle houses a museum presenting exhibitions dedicated to the history and monuments of Piotrków Trybunalski – a classic. An interesting, though perhaps less obvious, place is the Brewing Museum, located on the corner of Szewska and Łazienna Mokra Streets, rich in exhibits related to local brewing traditions – something for connoisseurs and beyond! By Czarniecki Square there is, which is also a considerable advantage, a film trail information point, and the previously mentioned tenement house housing the PTTK can also be a valuable source of information about the town for tourists. The Great Synagogue, currently serving an important role as a public library, is another significant building on the cultural map of the old town, testifying to its multicultural past. And in the Trybunalski Market Square and the surrounding tenement houses, as I’ve already mentioned, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafes, simply perfect for resting after sightseeing and soaking up the atmosphere.

Cultural Events Organised in the Old Town

Piotrków Trybunalski’s Old Town is, which personally delights me, home to many various cultural events. An example is the Centre for Ideas “Towards Democracy” operating here, where diverse artistic and social events take place, often very inspiring. Thematic trails, such as the film trail, testify to how actively the town is trying to utilise its potential and rich history, thereby engaging both residents and numerous tourists. Well done!

Local Folklore and Traditions – What Does the Past Hold?

The history of Piotrków’s craftsmen and their guilds, beautifully commemorated by plaques on Farna Street, is a very important and tangible element of local folklore and tradition. The memory of the Crown Tribunal, which, as we already know, was based in Piotrków for a full 200 years, is deeply, very deeply rooted in the town’s identity and is reflected, for instance, in the name Trybunalski Market Square and the numerous historical references you’ll encounter at every turn. It’s really, really worth telling friends and family visiting Piotrków Trybunalski about this rich history and all the interesting facts you’ll discover.

The Old Town as a Film Set: History on Screen

Piotrków’s Old Town also has, in its, after all, long history, an extremely interesting, cinematic chapter. Its unique, well-preserved architecture and distinct atmosphere have made it a popular backdrop for many, indeed many, film and television productions, both Polish and, perhaps surprisingly, foreign.

Well-Known Films and Series Filmed in Piotrków’s Old Town

Over the years, scenes for many well-known and popular productions have been filmed in Piotrków Trybunalski’s Old Town. The list of films and series is, for a town of this size, impressive, and among them you’ll find titles such as:

• Ewa chce spać (Eve Wants to Sleep)
• Życie raz jeszcze (Life Once Again)
• Potem nastąpi cisza (Then There Will Be Silence)
• Vabank
• Jan Serce (Jan Serce, TV series)
• W cieniu nienawiści (In the Shadow of Hatred)
• Nowy Jork, czwarta rano (New York, 4 a.m.)
• Komediantka (The Comedienne)
• Psy (Dogs)
• Uprowadzenie Agaty (The Kidnapping of Agata)
• Jakub kłamca (Jakob the Liar)
• Syzyfowe prace (Sisyphean Labours)
• Pan Tadeusz (Pan Tadeusz)
• Przeprowadzki (Removals, TV series)
• Masz na imię Justine (Your Name Is Justine)
• W ciemności (In Darkness)

That is surely undeniable proof of how diverse productions, and from various eras, have utilised the potential of Piotrków’s old town, wouldn’t you agree?

What Makes the Old Town So Attractive to Filmmakers?

Piotrków’s success as a film town is certainly no accident. For directors and set designers, a huge asset here is the perfectly preserved and simultaneously very diverse architecture – there’s the Trybunalski Market Square with its prominent tenement houses, there are historic churches, but also those intimate, less obvious streets and alleys that can easily ‘play’ different historical eras, sometimes even… other towns. Furthermore, Piotrków’s strategic location, and especially its proximity to major film centres in Łódź and Warsaw, makes it an extremely accessible and logistically convenient place for film crews to work. The introduction of the film trail, with an information point in Czarniecki Square, further highlights Piotrków’s significance in the history of Polish, and indeed wider, cinema.

Revitalisation of the Old Town: From Oblivion to Tourist Gem?

Although Piotrków Trybunalski’s Old Town, as we already know, survived many historical upheavals and cataclysms, recent decades have, unfortunately, also brought considerable challenges related to its technical condition and overall aesthetics. Fortunately, thanks to the tremendous commitment of the town authorities and support flowing from various, much-needed sources, Piotrków’s old town has undergone and, importantly, is still undergoing an intensive revitalisation process, gradually, step by step, regaining its former splendour and becoming a real tourist gem (though still perhaps underestimated). Or, to put it another way, it has a great chance of doing so.

Revitalisation Programme and Visible Effects of the Works

As part of the large-scale Old Town revitalisation programme, a series of much-needed works have been carried out. Between 2007 and 2013, among other things, the main communication routes were renovated, restoring their historic, often forgotten, character to the streets and squares. Numerous tenement houses were also renewed and refurbished, especially those located in the immediate vicinity of the Trybunalski Market Square – this is where the changes are most visible. The effects of the revitalisation are, believe me, visible to the naked eye, and the renovated old town, with new infrastructure and greenery, such as the attractive Castle Square, is becoming increasingly friendly and simply more pleasant for both residents and tourists. (And just a few years ago it could be… rather different here).

Revitalisation Funding and Project Partners

This entire revitalisation process was, it’s worth emphasising, made possible thanks to significant financial support. European Funds played a key role here, as in the case of many such projects in Poland. Large projects, such as the ambitious “Trail of Many Cultures – Development of the town’s tourism potential through the revitalisation of historic areas of Piotrków Trybunalski”, were co-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund within the framework of the Regional Operational Programme of the Łódź Voivodeship – this shows the scale of involvement. This support allowed for the carrying out of comprehensive works, encompassing not only the renovation of the buildings themselves but also the modernisation of necessary infrastructure and thoughtful development of public spaces, such as the aforementioned Castle Square, which is a direct result of this funding. The fact that these funds were secured is a considerable success.

What Does the Future Hold for Piotrków’s Old Town?

Looking at the visible effects of the revitalisation carried out so far, one can think about the future of Piotrków’s Old Town with a degree of optimism. The town authorities and project partners are aiming to preserve its unique, distinctive character, while consistently developing its tourism and cultural potential. The goal is to create a place that is genuinely attractive to visitors, vibrant throughout the year, and, above all, proud of its incredibly rich history. The renovation of tenement houses in the Piotrków Podzamcze area, also supported, incidentally, by European Funds, shows that the renewal process also includes areas adjacent to the strict old town centre, which is a logical and necessary step. All of this means that Piotrków Trybunalski, with its beautiful and increasingly renovated old town, has a real chance of becoming an even more important, more recognisable spot on Poland’s tourist map – and that’s exactly what we wish it!

The Old Town – Heritage and Future

Piotrków Trybunalski bears that characteristic word in its name for a reason. It’s a town with an incredibly, truly incredibly rich history, and its Old Town is a tangible, living monument to that past. By visiting this place, we have the chance to literally immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of centuries past, discovering the historic layout of the Old Town with its well-preserved, charming burgher tenement houses, the still-visible traces of the old town walls, and wonderful churches – such as the monumental Gothic St. James Parish Church or the impressive Baroque Church of St. Francis Xavier, which is part of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Trybunalski. We can visit the former royal castle, now operating as a museum, or see the building of the Great Synagogue, which currently serves an important role as a public library. Renovation and support, including from European Funds, mean that all these places in Piotrków Trybunalski are gaining a new, much-needed splendour. Walking around the Trybunalski Market Square, the charming streets of Grodzka, Rwańska, Sieradzka, Szewska, or Łazienna Mokra, or perhaps visiting the Brewing Museum or the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Piotrków, we feel how important it is for this unique heritage to be preserved for future generations. Piotrków Trybunalski shows that it is possible, and indeed necessary, to combine deep respect for history with modern development, becoming an increasingly attractive spot on the tourist map – something which will surely, I hope, delight all lovers of travel and discovering the charms of Poland.