Długa Street is the longest street of Old Town district in Bydgoszcz and the most important historically. It stands next to Gdańska Street and Dworcowa Street as one of the most important avenues of downtown Bydgoszcz.
Location The street is located in the heart of the Old Town. It extends approximately on an east–west axis, from the Zbożowy Rynek ("grain market") near southern tip of Bernardyńska Street to Wool Market square (). It is approximately long.
Naming The street in its long history has borne the following names: 16th century – first half of the 18th century, "Platea Longa" 1774–1800, Lange Gasse 1800–1816, Langestraße 1840–1920, Friedrichstraße 1872–1920, for the eastern part, Kornmarktstraße 1920–1939, Długa street 1920–1931, for the former Kornmarktstraße section, Szpitalna 1939–1945, Friedrichstraße From 1945, Długa street.
History
Period before the First Partition Długa street was laid out in the middle of the 14th century, at the time of the creation of the chartered city of Bydgoszcz. Until the beginning of the 19th century, it was the longest and the busiest street in the city, connecting two city gates : the Kujawska Gate to the east and the Poznan Gate to the west. The street was flanked by two parallel running axis: Pod Blankami street on the south and Zaułek street on the north. Both streets were designed to carry supplies for horses in local stables. The first residential buildings in Długa Street were made of wood, according to the wattle and daub technique. Brick houses appeared no earlier than 15th century. The first written mention of Długa Street dates back to the middle of 16th: in the years 1559–1561, it was known as "Longa platea" or "Longa platea Civili" (Latin for "long civilian street"). In these sources, the numerous references are made to brick buildings, homes, dwellings, empty squares and breweries located in the street. Preserved entries from the 16th to the 17th century bear witness of a lively environment. Around 1619–1622, mention is made of 18 brick houses standing on the street. The owner of one of them was a city bailiff. Habitations along the street were housing many craftsmen, such as shoemakers, tailors, masons, locksmiths, as well as representatives of the nobility.
Archaeological studies in the Old Town of Bydgoszcz could not determine exactly where are located today the old basements from the 16th and 17th centuries, most of them dating back to the end of the 18th century, and the oldest being from 1623. However, 2008 archaeological excavations have allowed identification of 16th-century brick remains at Długa 52, and basement from the end of the 17th century at 9 Długa. Many of the cellars searched have been built between the 18th and the 19th centuries
In the first half of the 16th century, a wooden city water supply for the citizens have been built in Długa street. Archaeological discoveries revealed the entire length of the street timber water pipe extending 0.6 to 1.5 m deep.
One of the most interesting discoveries associated with the history of Długa Street happened in March 2004. In the process of the demolition of the building at Nr.9, a decorative wooden ceiling from 1730 has been exposed. It bore the initials of the landlord, "Maciej Rychlicki", councilor and bailiff of the city: ceiling beams are now exposed in the restaurant Browar Pub now occupying the premises.
The oldest buildings front of Długa Street have been destroyed, mainly in the end of the 18th century and the turn of the 19th century.
Period of the Prussian occupation The passage of Bydgoszcz under the authority of Kingdom of Prussia in 1772 marked a new step in the history of Długa Street, especially in its architectural appearance. According to a survey for a map of the Bromberg realized in 1774, 45 of the 95 properties in the street renamed Friedrichstrasse were at that time newly built up.
Until 1820, the street remained one of the only city's main thoroughfares with Gdańska Street and Dworcowa Street. At the end of the 18th century, there were inns in Długa street, Hotel de Pologne and Hotel de Varsovie, both multi-storey buildings covered sloping roofs, built in the second half of the 18th century.
In the 19th century, the following hotels were located in Friedrichstrasse: "Rio's hotel" (then from 1932 Hotel Rio) at 31 Długa – 53 Friedrichstrasse, built in the late 18th century. Closed in 1939; "Hotel Garni" at 22 Długa – 29 E Friedrichstrasse, built in the early 19th century; "Hotel Lengning" at 37 Długa – 56 Friedrichstrasse, opened in 1882. Now Hotel Ratuszowy; "Hotel de Rome", at the junction of Długa street with Podwale Street and Kościelecki Square, built in the early 19th century. Closed in 1869.
Between 1815 and 1840, Prussian authorities started to demolish a number of derelict urban buildings, most of them from the 16th century. Among others, this operation removed: the Old Town Hall (now under the Main Square); St. Mary's Church (Carmelites), St. Stanislaus Church, Old St. Trinity Church and Old Holy Cross Church; fragments of the city walls; Kujawska Gate (1817) and Poznan Gate (1828) which were closing each end of Długa street.
Since the middle of the 19th century, Jews have settled in the middle section of the Street (from Jan Kazimierz street to Stefan Batory street). They had their shops and most of their habitation houses. In 1834, a synagogue was built in Pod Blankami street, as well as a Jewish school building. In 1882, the old synagogue was extended to accommodate the rapid growing community. Alfred Cohn, of Jewish origin, who lived 19 years in a house at the corner with Jan Kazimierz wrote a book about his memories of the period around the turn of the 20th century in this street. This book accurately depicts shops and premises of the small Jewish quarter, in Długa street in the early 20th century, such as: the Seat of the local Polish newspaper "Dziennik Bydgoski" at 52 from 1908; Coffee shop Nachtigall, later Berend (till 1945); the seat of the Masonic lodge; Restaurant "Falstaf II" (1907);Joseph Święcicki "Bromberg" 1907 Hotel Rio's; Hotel Lengning; Police station and seat of the Mayor of Bydgoszcz (Nr.41).
Since 1888, tram network -initially horsecars and from 1896 electrical powered- have run in the area.
Between World War I and World War II As Bydgoszcz returned to motherland's territory in 1920, the street took back its original Polish name "Długa" and in 1931, the renumbering of the street was carried out. It was also extended towards the east, to include the old Hospital street were has been standing St. Stanislaus Church and its hospice from 1583 to 1817.
The address book of Bydgoszcz registered in 1934 in Długa street 21 stores (e.g. good products, haberdashery, food, etc.). In addition, there were here 12 tailors, 11 warehouses, 7 shops for menswear, 6 furniture stores, 4 offices writing applications, 4 restaurants, 3 stores for stationery paper and a butcher.
Period after 1945 By the mid-20th century, the street had a successful mercantile and commercial nature, mainly with craft workshops and gastronomy. In 1945, after the reconstruction of the bridge over the Brda river connecting the old town with Theatre square, tram service resumed in Długa street. In 1969, the streetcar traffic was stopped in the western part of the street, and in 1973, the rest of the network in the Old Town has been disbanded, giving priority to the pedestrian zone. At the same time (1976–1982), restoration started for some the houses of Długa.
In the 1990s, after heavy works between Wełniany Rynek in Bydgoszcz and Jan Kazimierz street, the environment have been transformed into a promenade, closed to traffic. Modernization works occurred also in 2005 between Jan Kazimierz Street and Podwale street. In 2007 has been unveiled the "Autographs alley", displaying signature plaques of famous personalities embedded in the street pavement. In June 2008, at the intersection with Jan Kazimierz Street has been placed a historic tram car, acting as a seasonal Tourist Information Centre and reminding of the gone streetcar activity in the area.
Since 2005, and the completion of Długa street renovation, has been initiated the "Feast of Długa street" (), taking place in June each year. In the following years, other commercial events happened in the street, like the "Długa street Fair", the "Easter Fair" or the "Christmas Market". In 2009, has been achieved the reconstruction of the western end of the street, the "Wool Market" (), with the setting of a monument to Leon Barciszewski, Mayor of Bydgoszcz from 1932 to 1939.
Architecture Długa Street in Bydgoszcz comprises almost entirely built stylish houses. This fact reflects its importance as a representative, a trade thoroughfare in the Old Town. Most frontages have been built in 18th and 19th century, in different architectural styles: neoclassicism, eclecticism and Italian or Northern European Neo-Renaissance. Many frontages are influenced by ancient architecture. Facade in Długa street mark an architectural difference in comparison to styles one can notice in the other parts of Bydgoszcz such as Neo-Baroque and Historicism, characteristics of downtown buildings (i.e. Gdańska Street, Dworcowa Street, Cieszkowski Street, Adam Mickiewicz Alley in Bydgoszcz), Art Nouveau, Modernism.
Older buildings have generally a rough shape, a limited decoration with a mixing of styles ( eclecticism), characteristic of the second half of the 19th century. Facades are generally horizontally by cornices, especially on the top of buildings. They are often decorated with classical ornaments such as: astragals, cymatia, meanders, palmette friezes and triglyphs. Vertical façade articulations are realized through columns, pillars and pilasters. Some houses are adorned with pediments including tondi or allegorical statues. Columns and pilasters also appear in window frames and door openings, usually topped by a frontage and more rarely with decorated friezes.
Edifices constructed or rebuilt in the 1870s have richer decorations, mainly with a Neo-Renaissance style. Classical architecture decorative elements have been combined with elements of Renaissance origin and bossage or railings. Among such houses, those at Nr.32 and 35 stand out. Neo-Renaissance style has been popular in these houses from the end of the 19th, as it was at the time in the German Empire, France and throughout northern Europe. Facades display red or yellow bricks, contrasting with bright, plastered detail, stone-like decoration. Compositions are dominated by symmetry and horizontal divisions. Roofs are generally mansarded, with peaks embellished with volutes, completed by pinnacles or figures: it is the case in houses at Nr.12, 24, 34 & 46.
Many houses on Długa Street were also rebuilt in the second half of the 20th century: some were even dismantled before being reconstructed again. Between 1976 and 1982, houses from Nr.13 to 21 have undergone such process, another stage of thorough restoration has occurred after 2000. In 2014, Bydgoszcz's Mayor has begun to issue administrative orders to landlords compelling them to carry out renovation works: such was the instance for houses at Nr.10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 58.
Many properties had been recognized as historical monuments. In 2015, in the heritage list of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship 12 sites located on Długa Street were listed.Uchwala NR XLI/875/13 RADY MIASTA BYDGOSZCZY, 24 April 2013
Most significant buildings in the street include: Tenement at 52, seat of the Provincial Administrative Court, Tenement at 41, seat of the Provincial and Municipal Public Library, Hotel Ratsuszowy ("City Hall Hotel") at 37.
Revitalisation