Rynek Trybunalski is the central point of Pertikau’s medieval street plan, also known as Piotrków Trybunalski. The Old Town comprises around 100 historic buildings and extends beyond the market square. It includes Grodzka, Konarskiego, Szewska, Łazienna Mokra, Sieradzka, Rwańska, Pijarska, Farna and Rycerska streets, as well as plac Czarnieckiego. Parts of Krakowskie Przedmieście and Wojska Polskiego Street are also included. The Old Town can therefore be understood as a continuous historic area, whose streets and squares preserve different traces of the city’s history.
Traces of the city’s history
The Royal Castle in Piotrków Trybunalski was built between 1512 and 1519 by Master Benedykt of Sandomierz, commissioned by Sigismund I the Old. The fortifications also tell the story of the city’s development: construction of the city walls began in the 14th century. A foundation by Queen Jadwiga made it possible to complete them towards the end of that century. Three short sections of the former fortifications remain today.
The outlines of the former town hall are marked on the paving at Rynek Trybunalski. There is also a plaque commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Tribunal. The town hall in Piotrków once served as its seat. The museum’s permanent exhibition, “The Role of Piotrków Trybunalski in the History of the Polish State”, shows how the city fits into broader historical contexts.
Film history and a planetarium
From 1957 onwards, Piotrków Trybunalski was repeatedly used as a filming location for Polish and foreign productions for more than 50 years. Scenes for over 20 films were shot in the city. The Piotrków Film Trail runs through the very centre of the city, passing through the same urban area as the historic places described here.
The planetarium at the Bolesław Chrobry I General Secondary School offers a different way to explore. It began operating on 10 October 1981 and was the first amateur planetarium in Poland. It presents popular science astronomy shows. If you plan to attend a show, check the current options for your visit in advance.
Sanctuaries and venerated images
The Jesuit Church of St Francis Xavier is also the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Trybunalska. Dedicated to the patroness of Polish parliamentarians, it is a place of prayer for those in political office. The venerated image has played an important role in Piotrków Trybunalski for almost 500 years. Those who once prayed there included King Stephen Báthory, other monarchs, deputies and senators.
Another Sanctuary of Our Lady of Piotrków is located in the Bernardine Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The venerated image was painted in 1625 and has been in a side altar of the Bernardine church ever since. The two sanctuaries represent different aspects of the city’s religious history: one is associated with the patroness of parliamentarians, the other with the image in the Bernardine monastery.
Workshops and local history on a plate
Muzeum Marcepanów at Rynek Trybunalski 2 offers marzipan workshops lasting about an hour. Participants make marzipan themselves using natural ingredients. Ice-cream workshops are available at Muzeum Lodów, at Rynek Trybunalski 9. From November to April, admission is reserved for organised groups, according to the stated policy. As workshop offerings and seasonal access arrangements may change, check the conditions before visiting.
Beer, too, is part of Piotrków Trybunalski’s heritage. The oldest surviving written reference to beer dates from 1487, when King Casimir IV Jagiellon confirmed the rights of Piotrków’s merchants. The brewing tradition dates back to the city’s founding; for centuries, quantities considered exceptionally large by Polish standards were even brewed there.
Getting here
Piotrków Trybunalski is served by the Warsaw–Katowice–Vienna railway line and is an important national road transport hub. A map of the cycling network is also available for those interested in cycling. These details offer different ways to plan your journey to suit your plans. Check specific train connections and times for your travel date.
When choosing a holiday apartment, you can focus on the discoveries you want to shape your visit: the Old Town’s streets and buildings, the sanctuaries, film history or the workshops. Discover more destinations: Piotrków County, Zduńska, Opoczno, Pajęczno, Łowicz, Wieluń, Łask, Wieruszów County.
For the broader travel overview: Łódź.
