The square was originally known in German as An-der-Königsbrücke-Platz ('square by the Royal Bridge'), before the name was eventually shortened to Königsplatz ('Royal Square').[1]
After the siege of Breslau, due to the city's incorporation into Poland, the name was changed to plac 1 Maja ('May 1 Square'), named after the International Workers' Day. In 2006, the name was changed to plac Jana Pawła II ('John Paul II Square'), after John Paul II, who died the preceding year.[1]
History
Königsplatz, Breslau (c. 1909)
The square was created on the site of the Nikolaitor ('Nicholas Gate', Polish: Brama Mikołajska), which was demolished in 1820. In 1900, a statue of Otto von Bismarck was erected on the northern side of the square. On the opposite side, a fountain named Bismarckbrunnen ('Bismarck Fountain') with sculptures by Ernst Seger was built. After the war, the fountain was renamed 'Allegory of Struggle and Victory' (Polish: Alegoria Walki i Zwycięstwa).[2]
In 1945, the majority of the buildings in the square were demolished due to damage sustained during the siege of Breslau. The only surviving structure is a tenement house dating back to 1841, which was later rebuilt in 1879 as a neo-Renaissance palace. Today, it serves as the seat of Wrocław Academy of Music.[3]
In 2023, the Infinity office building was opened at the John Paul II Square.[4][5]
