In the centre of the village of Złotniki Lubańskie in Lower Silesia stands a dilapidated building, referred to by locals after the war as the town hall. The 19th-century building is in a tragic state despite being listed in the register of monuments. Successive attempts to sell it have come to nothing, mainly due to the scale of the damage and the cost of the work that would need to be done on the building. Will the town hall crumble before our eyes?
“Logierhaus zum Queistal” – history
The brick building in the centre of Złotniki Lubańskie was erected after the tragic fire of 1835, which destroyed most of the local buildings. For decades, this impressive property served as the most important public place in the entire area. Until 1945, it housed a hotel and restaurant known as “Logierhaus zum Queistal”, which literally means “Guest House above the Queis Valley”. After World War II, the village became part of Poland. Due to its size and location in the middle of the market square, the inn building began to be called the town hall, changing its original function. The town hall housed, among others, the Gromadzka National Council, a library and a post office, and until the 1960s, a village inn operated here, and later a grocery store. Over the years, the unrenovated building fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned.
The “Town Hall” in Złotniki Lubańskie
The building of the former guest house “Logierhaus zum Queistal” was distinguished by its impressive, elaborate structure with picturesque wooden cloisters, verandas and numerous extensions. These elements made the building stand out clearly from the surrounding simple and low-rise buildings. The whole building was covered with a gable roof with dormers. The so-called town hall did not have a tower, but this did not prevent the residents from giving it this name. The town of Złotniki Lubańskie itself is also interesting and worth seeing. It has almost completely preserved frontage buildings around the market square, which is rare in villages. Admittedly, the houses are not in the best condition, and two of them are only ruins of the front wall, but the overall spatial layout of the former goldsmith settlement is of great historical value.
Progressive degradation of the monument
Since the 1960s, none of the successive owners has undertaken any real work to secure the town hall. As a result, the abandoned building quickly fell victim to vandals, and the impact of weather conditions was also significant. The leaky roof and lack of windows led to the rapid deterioration of the interior, ceilings and stairs in the 1990s. A particularly sad moment for the monument came on 2 July 2020, when, shortly before 5 p.m., part of its structure collapsed, including one of its characteristic cloisters. Thanks to the quick reaction of the president of the local Volunteer Fire Brigade, the surrounding area was secured and no injuries were reported. At the request of the building inspectorate, firefighters removed unstable and dangerous elements. Thus, another fragment of the village’s history disappeared.
The “Town Hall” in Złotniki Lubańskie and attempts to sell it
The dilapidated building remains in private hands, but has been offered for sale several times, most recently in 2024 for approximately PLN 390,000. Unfortunately, the high costs of renovation effectively deter potential investors. Current regulations allow for tax relief on the purchase and renovation of historic buildings, including deductions based on floor space and further costs of work. Due to private ownership, the municipality of Leśna has no real legal tools to influence the further course of events. The current owner has a development concept agreed with the provincial conservator of monuments, but without a buyer willing to save the former inn, its future does not look bright.
Source: zabytek.pl, lubanski.eu
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