Throughout the last one thousand years Wrocław has been described by many names: the Island Stronghold, Vratislavia and Wrotizla in Latin, Wretslaw in Czech, Pressau under the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Breslau in times of the Third Reich and Wrocław once again in Poland. Here, in the heart of the Old City, in the neighbourhood of the 14th c. Gothic church of St. Dorothy, the Monopol Hotel was established. The piece of land at the side of the church where had previously stood a fallen into ruin and neglected old Franciscan priory was bought by a banker Wallenberg Pachaly and an architect Karl Grosser, who very soon transformed abandoned walls into a very modern hotel, which finally was open in 1892.
As the renewed hotel with distinctive charm and character, it has been a hub of social gatherings. In its heydays it was the popular meeting place of wealthy industrialists and businessmen, as well as artists and bohemians.
The beautiful Neo-baroque facade remained untouched until 1937 when for the not very creditable reasons a portico with a balcony was added over the main entrance. Twenty years later form this balcony a famous Polish tenor Jan Kiepura gave a spectacular concert for hundreds of people gathered in front of the hotel.
The city of Wrocław has suffered painful experiences throughout history, particularly during the II World War, although after the war the main part of the hotel’s building remained without considerable damages. Not surprisingly the Monopol Hotel was the place where Pablo Picasso created his famous “Dove of Peace”.
During the times of PRL (Polish Republic of People) the hotel was taken over and maintained by the Orbis. The lower part of the hotel which formerly served as a shopping arcade was rebuild in 1961 and transformed into a quickly gaining popularity café.
The legendary Monopol Hotel with a glamorous past has played host to many eminent guest and celebrities, being also recognised as a favourite haunt of artists and the literati. The very long list includes Marlene Dietrich, Pablo Picasso, Irene Joliot-Curie or the winner of the Nobel Prize in literature Michail Scholohov.
Recently, taken over by new owners, the hotel has undergone a careful renovation resulting in a stylish modern hotel, yet retaining the glamour and opulence of authentic period details. Each room has been individually designed, and a sophisticated contemporary style has been created in perfect keeping with its historical settings. The lower part has been restored to the previous function of the luxurious Shopping Arcade. Sumptuous ornamental motives on the façade, a charming turret on the corner of the lower building, the warm sandstone elevations, subtle, wrought iron balustrades on the balconies – all together evoke the individual atmosphere of an old Central-European hotel.