Easy hikes and walks around Szelków

open daily from 9 a.m.

"The history of the town hall dates back to the early 15th century. Bishop Jakub of Płock is said to have funded the seat of the town authorities in 1405. The Gothic tower added to the town hall fulfilled both judicial and penitentiary functions as well as defense. Initially, it reached a height of 15 m and was built on a rectangular plan. During the 15th and 16th centuries, it was gradually raised, with additional storeys built on an octagonal plan. A new town hall was also built - lower, more modern - in the Renaissance style, topped with a crested attic. The 30-meter tower at that time gained a domed spire with a lantern, and a clock was also ordered for it. During the wars in the 17th and 18th centuries, the town hall burned down several times. In 1728, it was rebuilt with funds from Bishop Andrzej Stanisław Kostka Załuski. The two-bay building surrounded the tower in a horseshoe shape from the east. The entrance was located on the north and covered with a wooden arcade. The tower roof was changed to an octagonal one, and the clock was abandoned. In this form, the town hall survived until the end of the 19th century. At that time, in addition to the city authorities, the army was quartered here, and there was a prison and even warehouses for Pułtusk merchants. At the end of the 19th century, a shelter was organized in the ruined building, and from 1880, the ground floor and the tower were put into use by the Volunteer Fire Department. After 1902, a new, smaller building was erected on the site of the former building, in the neo-Gothic style, only for the use of the fire department. The tower was deprived of its roof, replacing it with an uncovered platform. It turned out to be completely non-functional and the original roof covering of the tower top was quickly restored. Also at that time, a clock was placed on the north side, on the seventh floor." Source: https://arch.pultusk.pl/wieza-dawnego-ratusza-gotycko-renesansowa/

Opposite is a bar-cafe. You can eat and drink coffee. In the summer, good ice cream with a view of the locals who meet on the benches nearby.

In the 14th century, there was a stronghold on the castle hill, which was moved and construction began on the castle in Pułtusk, which became the seat of the bishops of Płock. The first castle buildings were wooden, at the beginning of the 15th century, brick buildings began to be built, probably after the destruction during the Lithuanian invasions. The most important expansion took place in the 6th century, when the castle was given the character of a Renaissance residence. The bishop's castle was modernized and decorated by artists, but it was destroyed during the Swedish Deluge. The castle was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century, the north-west wing was added. At that time, the castle acquired its current shape of a horseshoe - several connected buildings around the courtyard. An arcaded bridge and a gate building lead to the castle. The castle was devastated during the Napoleonic Wars, and suffered the greatest damage in 1945. Rebuilt after the war, later rebuilt for hotel purposes as the House of Polonia. Being in Pułtusk at the castle, we will definitely come across a huge and long Market Square - at one end the castle, at the other the Collegiate Basilica of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is worth walking through the old streets, visiting several old churches, and all of this is basically within the old town, on an island surrounded by branches of the Narew River. https://discover.pl/zamek-biskupi-w-pultusku/

Coffee and cake next to the town hall

The city fountain, located on the market square in Pułtusk, at the foot of the castle, is not only an element of architecture. From June 23, 2022, there are WATER - LIGHT - SOUND SHOWS.

The construction of the Pułtusk Town Hall, the seat of the municipal authorities, began at the beginning of the 15th century. It was supposedly founded in 1405, probably in a wooden form, by the bishop of Płock, Jakub Kurdwanowski. The Gothic tower added to the town hall a little later, serving both judicial and penitentiary functions as well as defense, was built as a brick building. In the 16th century, a new, renaissance town hall building with an attic was built. It burned down several times during the wars in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1728, it was rebuilt on the initiative of Bishop Andrzej Stanisław Kostka Załuski and survived until the end of the 19th century. At that time, in addition to the city authorities, the army was quartered in it, there was a detention center and even warehouses for Pułtusk merchants. At the end of the 19th century, a poorhouse was organized in the ruined building, and from 1880 the ground floor and the tower were put into use by the Volunteer Fire Brigade. After 1902, a new, smaller, neo-Gothic building was erected on the site of the demolished building. During World War II, the fire station and the tower were partially destroyed. In the years 1947 - 1949, the tower was renovated according to the design of Mieczysław Rzepecki, while the fire station was demolished. The town hall tower has survived from the medieval seat of the municipal authorities of Pułtusk to the present day. In 1964, the Regional Museum was organized there, which is still located there today. Interestingly, the tower is located in the middle of the market square, which is considered the longest in Europe.

It is a pity that the longest cobblestone market square (400 meters) in Europe has become a car park.