Opoczno "Dom Esterki"

On plac Kościuszki [Kościuszko Square] in Opoczno stands a brick building known as "Dom Esterki" [Esterka's House]. Today it houses the Municipal and District Public Library named after Stefan Janas and offices of the Polish Teachers' Union and the Association of Friends of Children, so as a public institution it is open to residents and readers.

The legend of Esterka

The name of the house derives from a legend according to which the building was supposed to have been funded by King Casimir the Great for his beloved Esterka and connected to the castle in Opoczno by a secret underground passage. This is a story passed down in local tradition rather than a documented historical fact.

What is known from documents

The brick building made of limestone was erected probably in the 16th century and was subsequently rebuilt many times. A thorough reconstruction was carried out in 1893 and another restoration in 1927, and it is from this period that the current appearance of the facade dates. In the cellars, fragments of former buildings have been preserved, and on the ground floor are two rooms with Latin inscriptions from the 16th century and characteristic barrel vaults.

Various functions over the years

In the middle of the 19th century the house was donated to the Care Council of the Charitable Institutions of Opoczyński County, and for a time it housed a citizens' assembly hall and a shop. During the January Uprising the cellars of the building served as a prison for insurgents. In the interwar period the building was occupied by military command and district administration offices, and during the Second World War by consumer cooperative offices.

Library since 1975

Since 1975 the building has served as a public library, today bearing the name of Stefan Janas. Alongside the reading room and lending library, it houses offices of social organisations. Nearby is the market square in Opoczno and the column with a statue of Jesus the Sorrowful.

Practical information

• Address: plac Kościuszki 15a, Opoczno
• Getting there: on foot from the city centre, by the market square
• What to expect: functioning public library, historic facade and interiors with period vaults, opening hours should be checked before visiting