John Paul II Square, Wrocław

The John Paul II Square is a square and important transit point in Wrocław, Poland. The square is situated in the Szczepin district.

Name

The square was originally known in German as An-der-Königsbrücke-Platz, before the name was eventually shortened to Königsplatz.
After the siege of Breslau, due to the city's incorporation into Poland, the name was changed to plac 1 Maja, named after the International Workers' Day. In 2006, the name was changed to plac Jana Pawła II, after John Paul II, who died the preceding year.

History

The square was created on the site of the Nikolaitor, 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 with sculptures by Ernst Seger was built. After the war, the fountain was renamed 'Allegory of Struggle and Victory'.
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.
In 2023, the Infinity office building was opened at the John Paul II Square.