Off the beaten track. This is the most beautiful market square in the Masovian Voivodeship
This underrated city in Poland hides architectural pearls of the Renaissance. Here you can stroll along the beautiful market square and go to the castle.
Where is the most beautiful market square in the province? Masovian? According to eska.pl, the Great Market Square in Szydłowiec can easily fight for this title. In a city in southern Mazovia, on the border with the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, there are well-preserved monuments of urban architecture. “The market square in Szydłowiec is an ideal choice for those who want to experience the beauty of Masovia off the beaten track. Renaissance architecture, local stonemasonry heritage, medieval roots, unique urban additions and a quiet, idyllic atmosphere create a place worth discovering by every history and aesthetics lover,” we read in the justification.
Szydłowiec. An underrated weekend destination
The city is dominated by the tower of the town hall, which, in accordance with Magdeburg law, stands in the center of the rectangular Great Market Square. It can be seen from a distance of several kilometers, and the gallery located on it offers a vast view of the entire area. It is covered with a copper, domed helmet topped with a spire with an eagle. Four clocks under the gallery mark the cardinal directions. Today, the Szydłowiec town hall is considered one of the most beautiful bourgeois buildings in Poland.
Another attraction is the “Zośka” column from the 17th century. According to tradition, the figure on her platform was called “Zośka”, apparently after the first woman branded at this pillory.
The southern frontage of the market square is occupied by the late Gothic structure of the Szydłowiec parish church. There used to be a wooden church in this place. A brick temple replaced it at the end of the 15th century, and its interior was enriched in the 16th century. This is what it looks like from the perspective of a walk along the promenade that connected the historic center of the city (the Great Market Square and the Castle) with the recreational areas by the reservoir.
A castle like from a fairy tale
From the market square you can go to the Renaissance magnate residence, located on an artificial island surrounded by a moat and a park. Its appearance dates back to the 16th century. The former residence of the Szydłowiecki and Radziwiłł families and Princess Anna Sapieżyna is one of the city’s main attractions. Admission to the castle courtyard is free.
