The History of Townhouse No. 55 on Poznań’s Old Market Square

The Old Market Square in Poznań was established in 1253, when the Dukes of Greater Poland – Przemysł I and his brother Bolesław the Pious – granted a charter to found a new city on the left bank of the Warta River.

At the heart of the spacious market square, the Town Hall was built as the seat of municipal authorities. Over time, cloth halls, butcher stalls, and other trading facilities were added. Residential townhouses began to appear around the square, and the property lines set during the city’s founding remained largely unchanged until the late 19th century.

Among these historic buildings stands Townhouse No. 55, today the home of Ratuszova Restaurant (formerly Ratuszova Wine Bar).

Over the course of more than 700 years, the building has witnessed many turbulent times – wars, fires, and floods. Despite the destruction, it was always rebuilt – a testament to the determination and commitment of its successive owners.

The earliest known records state that in 1468, a town juror named Piotr Adam purchased the property from the heirs of a brewer, Piotr Berger. In the mid-17th century, the house belonged to Niccolò Pinocci, an Italian from Lucca. His brother, Hieronim Pinocci, served for many years as an envoy to King John II Casimir Vasa of Poland.

Jan Kazimierz – King of Poland – Guest of Townhouse No. 55

King Jan Kazimierz visited Poznań in the winter of 1657–1658, during a pivotal period for Poland following prolonged negotiations that concluded in the autumn of 1657 with the Treaty of Wehlau–Bydgoszcz. At that time, the Pinocci family’s townhouse at No. 55 became his temporary residence, as the Royal Castle in Warsaw had been destroyed during military conflicts. The townhouse was adorned with tapestries, exquisite furniture, and equipment that highlighted the monarch’s stay in this burgher’s home.

During the winter months of 1657–1658, Jan Kazimierz brought the social atmosphere of the capital to Poznań. In the Pinocci residence, the king often gathered with the elite patriciate, clergy, and professors of the Lubrański Academy for numerous feasts and discussions about the current state of the country.

A dispatch from Poznań dated December 18, 1657, published in the “Gazette de France” reported:
“His Majesty the King of Poland frequently confers with Hetman Lubomirski and several senators to find ways to make peace with Sweden and to honorably free themselves from the Austrian troops.”

King Jan Kazimierz also participated in carnival festivities held at the Pinocci home, where music and dancing often lasted until dawn.

In the neighboring townhouse at No. 54 lived Mikołaj Skrzetuski, the inspiration for the character Jan Skrzetuski from Henryk Sienkiewicz’s With Fire and Sword. It was Jan Skrzetuski who broke through the siege of Zbaraż to reach King Jan Kazimierz. Thus, in Poznań, the fates of soldier Jan Skrzetuski and King Jan Kazimierz intertwined.

In the Shadow of the Town Hall Tower

The townhouse where King Jan Kazimierz stayed was burned during the siege of Poznań in 1945 and rebuilt only in 1953, following designs by Regina Pawulanka, Florian Rychlicki, and Włodzimierz Wojciechowski. The cellar still preserves its Gothic vaults, while the building as a whole was reconstructed in Baroque style.

Life on Poznań’s Market Square has always unfolded under the striking Renaissance town hall tower, which remains the historic patron of our restaurant.

Ratuszova Restaurant, operating in townhouse No. 55, is bound by tradition and history, proudly welcoming guests in the very interiors that once so warmly hosted King Jan Kazimierz, serving specialties of old Polish cuisine.