The Centennial Hall in Wrocław: A masterpiece of concrete

As I step off the tram and walk through Szczytnicki Park, I already sense that something grand awaits me. Suddenly, it flashes between the lush green of the trees: the Centennial Hall in Wrocław (Polish: Hala Stulecia). Even at first glance, the massive domed structure looks much more imposing in reality than in any photo.

But let’s first take a quick look back at the history of how this structure came to be.

The Battle for Bare Concrete

At the beginning of the 20th century, Wrocław (then Breslau) was short on space. The city urgently needed a representative venue for large exhibitions and celebrations. As the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig (1813) approached, the city launched a competition. The goal was to create an impressive event venue.

City architect Max Berg submitted a design that downright shocked his contemporaries. He didn’t want a traditional steel structure like the Eiffel Tower, nor classic stone architecture. He wanted to use reinforced concrete, and he wanted it bare and visible. Additionally, he planned a building on a scale that had never before been achieved with this material.

The skepticism was enormous. Many experts of the time were convinced that the building would collapse on itself. The city councilors hesitated but ultimately approved the budget (nearly two million marks).

A Superlative Construction Project

Construction began in August 1911. To finish on time, work continued through the night under artificial lighting. The gigantic shell was erected in just 14 months.

Is it true? When the wooden formwork was to be removed after the concrete had been poured, the workers allegedly refused to dismantle the scaffolding out of fear of a collapse. Max Berg is said to have gone out into the street and offered passersby a gold coin to help him tear it down. The dome held. In May 1913, the hall was opened as part of the great Centennial Exhibition.

From a World War II Miracle to UNESCO World Heritage

At the end of the Second World War, nearly 70 percent of Wrocław was reduced to rubble during heavy fighting. Miraculously, the Centennial Hall remained almost undamaged. Since 1948, the city has been Polish (Wrocław).

For its pioneering role in the history of concrete construction and modern architecture, the Centennial Hall was highly deservedly added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2006.

The Impressive Facts at a Glance:

• Dome span: 65 meters (the largest in the world at the time of construction, larger than the Pantheon in Rome).
• Height: 42 meters inside.
• Capacity: Space for around 10,000 people.

Our Visit: Searching for the Entrance

Our visit begins at the visitor center, which, to be honest, wasn’t that easy to find. Although a map in front of the hall showed the approximate location, all the doors looked the same and appeared locked. Even the little dwarf we spotted (a typical Wrocław bronze figure, here representing the architect) couldn’t show us the way at first. It was only at a rather inconspicuous door that looked more like an emergency exit that we discovered a sign for the entrance.

You can get your tickets at the visitor center, which are valid for both the permanent exhibition and access to the Centennial Hall itself.

My tip: Try to find out in advance if the hall is open. During our first visit, an event was taking place there, and access was restricted for a few days. Fortunately, we were staying in the city longer and were able to go back another time.

The Permanent Exhibition: History Up Close and Interactive

The exhibition in the visitor center is a modernly designed, interactive permanent display. It shows in a very tangible way why this structure was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Here is an overview of what awaited us:

Virtual Reality (VR) Tours This was the absolute highlight for us. With VR headsets, we could virtually fly over the massive dome and the 96-meter-tall steel spire (Iglica) on the forecourt, viewing the entire grounds from above. We stood right in the middle of the dome and got advance confirmation: we absolutely had to see this “for real.”

The History Here you learn everything about the planning of the hall and the surrounding grounds. The designs by architect Max Berg and urban planner Hans Poelzig, who planned the area around the hall (including the Four Domes Pavilion), can be studied in historical documents, newspaper reports, and blueprints. A particularly charming idea is the historical rotary telephones. If you pick up the receiver, you hear audio recordings and accounts from people who were involved in the creation of the hall and its grand opening in 1913.

3D Mapping and Animations On large screens and in special projections (some shaped like a shell), the entire construction process from the laying of the foundation stone to completion is visually recreated step by step.

Goosebump Moment: The View into the Dome

After so much information, it was time to visit the hall from the inside.

Through a wrap-around corridor and a few steps, we reach the grandstand area of the Centennial Hall. I instinctively tilt my head back. The view up into the tiered ribbed dome is indescribable. The bare concrete ribs soar in perfect symmetry toward the central window at the top. The daylight flooding in through the countless rows of windows gives the cool, gray concrete an almost warm, floating lightness.

It is surprisingly quiet in here until another visitor starts to clap. The sound echoes through the hall, and I imagine what it must be like when the hall is fully occupied. The acoustics and the atmosphere are undoubtedly unique.

I find it a bit of a pity that you can “only” stand on a small section of the grandstand. I would have loved to walk into the very center of the Centennial Hall. The view toward the middle of the massive dome from there must be gigantic.

The Outdoor Area: Pergola and Multimedia Fountain

After exploring the hall extensively, we were drawn outside. The hall does not stand in isolation but forms the centerpiece of a beautiful ensemble. Discovering it is an absolute must!

We stroll along the semi-circular pergola, which is reminiscent of an ancient colonnade and picturesquely draped in grapevines. It is wonderfully shady here, and the air is pleasantly cool on hot days.

The absolute highlight in the outdoor area is the Wrocławska Fontanna (Wrocław Multimedia Fountain). We are in luck and happen to be there at exactly the right time. One of the hourly water shows is starting. The interplay of music and hundreds of water jets impresses me deeply, and I often don’t know where to look first.

Tip: In the evening, the show takes place with spectacular lighting.

My Tips for the Visit

• Bring plenty of time: Plan for at least half a day. The hall itself is impressive, but its surroundings are equally so.
• Explore the neighborhood: Directly opposite is the Wrocław Zoo (with its famous Africarium), and just a few minutes’ walk away is the beautiful Japanese Garden (Ogród Japoński). Both can be perfectly combined with your visit!

Visitor Information

Address

Wystawowa 1,
51-618 Wrocław, Polen

Website

The visit to the visitor center took place as part of a cooperation with the Polish Tourism Organization in Berlin and  Wrocław Tourist Organisation statt.

Published 19 July 2026