Hala Mirowska: Warsaw's Historic Market Hall on Plac Mirowski

A market since 1883

The City of Warsaw dates the market on Plac Mirowski to 1883, when the city bought land from a nearby military garrison. Together with the slightly older Plac za Zelazna Brama it formed the largest market in Warsaw at the time, holding hundreds of stalls selling food, fish, flowers, shoes and fancy goods.

At the turn of the century the city raised two twin market halls beside the square, to designs by architects B. Milkowski, N. Kozlowski and A. Nieniewski. The new buildings were part of a drive to civilise the city's markets: stalls inside had running water, sewers and cold stores, fish swam in water basins, and meat counters were glazed with tile. The halls later served as the model for market buildings on Koszykowa and elsewhere in the city.

War, sport and return to trade

Only burnt-out walls survived the war. The eastern hall was rebuilt for the Gwardia sports club - the 1953 world boxing championships were fought inside - and returned to trade in the 1990s. The western hall, rebuilt in the 1960s, kept its commercial role throughout. In 1986 both halls were entered in the register of monuments; a later renovation uncovered a detail hidden under grime on the facade: an early Art Nouveau Warsaw Mermaid by Ludwik Panczakiewicz, dated 1899-1901.

Today

Per the city, the market halls on Plac Mirowski remain a working food market, with sellers displaying goods on the south side and cut flowers sold under white-and-green tents in front of the hall facing Plac Zelaznej Bramy. Warsaw counts more than 50 markets citywide, and no extra market fee has been charged to sellers since 2015.