Description of the attraction
In the historic quarters of Bydgoszcz, on Jesuit Street, you can see the Town Hall building, which was previously used for church needs. It was built by the Jesuits and was intended to teach boys the sciences.
At first, the city magistrate sat in a building located in the very heart of the Old City. Built of wood, it was rebuilt in stone in a style that combined Gothic and Renaissance features. This city hall was destroyed by Prussian troops in 1834. Then the mayor took care of finding a new place for his officials. The most suitable for the future mayor's office turned out to be a Jesuit college. It was erected in 1644-1653 in the Baroque style by order of Bishop Gaspar of Dzyalyński and Chancellor of the Polish king, Bydgoszcz elder George of Ossolinski. In the 17th century, the college had five classrooms, a theater hall for church music concerts, and a dormitory for children who played musical instruments.
The college building was completed and renovated several times. The last significant reconstruction carried out by the Jesuits took place in the years 1726-1740. The Jesuit College was the pride of the city; it was always shown to high-ranking guests.
After the departure of the Jesuits from the city in 1770, the college continued to serve for educational purposes. Schools were located here for several years, and then ceded the building to other educational institutions. This continued until the moment when this building was purchased by the mayor. In the course of a thorough reconstruction, which cost the city 122 thousand marks, the layout of the rooms was changed. They began to resemble less classrooms and offices.
Currently, the two-storey town hall is decorated in a strict classical style. Its light-colored brick façade is decorated with stucco and the coat of arms of Poland.
