Wroclaw Market Hall

The Hala Targowa opened in 1908 and its interest is as much structural as culinary: the roof is carried on parabolic reinforced concrete arches, an early and confident use of the material, left exposed above the stalls. Below them the hall still works as a market rather than a food court. The ground floor is produce, meat, cheese, bread, pickles and flowers, with a gallery running round above for household goods and a few counters selling cooked food. Prices are ordinary city prices and the customers are largely local. It sits between the old town and the cathedral island, so it slots easily into a walk between the two.

What you actually see

• The concrete arches - the exposed parabolic roof structure of 1908 above the stalls.
• The produce floor - seasonal fruit and vegetables, mushrooms in autumn, from small growers.
• The cheese and pickle stalls - smoked and fresh cheeses, barrelled cucumbers and sauerkraut.
• The upper gallery - the ring of smaller shops and food counters looking down on the hall.

When to go

Weekday mornings, when the stalls are fullest and the queues are short. Saturday is busy and traders begin packing up by early afternoon. The hall is closed on Sundays. Autumn is the best season here, with forest mushrooms, plums and apples from local growers filling the front stalls.

Honest expectations

It is a working market, not a tourist attraction, so the atmosphere is functional and the lighting is unflattering. There is little seating and only a handful of places to eat inside. Some stalls sell imported produce at ordinary supermarket quality. Cards are not accepted everywhere and small notes are useful. A visit here takes an hour at most.

Nearby

The cathedral island and the market square are within ten minutes on foot in either direction.