Centennial Hall

On March 10, 1813, King Frederick William III of Prussia issued a proclamation called "An Mein Volk" or "To My People" calling for the citizens of Prussia to rise up against Napoleon's occupation of the Silesian capital of Breslau. This proclamation also marked the creation of the Iron Cross, which later became one of the most well-known military honors and symbols in Germany. In October of that same year, Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Leipzig.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of this victory, the Jahrhunderthalle was opened in Breslau. Despite the hope for state funding, the municipal authorities of Breslau had to bear the enormous costs on their own. The opening ceremony was held on May 20, 1913, with the presence of Crown Prince William of Hohenzollern. The surroundings of the hall, including the landscaping and buildings, were designed by Hans Poelzig and feature a large pond with fountains enclosed by a concrete pergola in the shape of a half ellipse. In addition, to the north, a Japanese garden was also built.

The Silesian writer Gerhart Hauptmann had written a play called "Festspiel in deutschen Reimen" for the opening, but it was ultimately cancelled due to its anti-military tendencies. The play was to be directed by Max Reinhardt, but it was suspended by national-conservative groups.

Centennial Hall is a multi-purpose recreational building located in the Exhibition Grounds, previously used for horse racing. It was built after the memorial events and managed to escape significant damage during the Siege of Breslau in World War II. After the war, when the city became part of Poland, the communist authorities renamed it to "People's Hall." In 1948, a 106 meter tall metal sculpture called Iglica was erected in front of the building. Over the years, the building underwent extensive renovations, including ones in 1997 and 2010, and the Polish translation of its original German name, "Hala Stulecia," became official.

The building is well-known for hosting important sporting events such as EuroBasket 1963 and a preliminary round group of the EuroBasket 2009 tournament. With a capacity to hold 10,000 people, the building received a significant renovation grant of $200,000 from the Getty Foundation in 2014, as part of the "Keeping It Modern" grant program.

The Centennial Hall Cupola, constructed in reinforced concrete, was a marvel of its time, boasting the largest diameter and height of any building of its kind. With a diameter of 69 meters (226 feet) and a height of 42 meters (138 feet), the symmetrical quatrefoil shape of the structure could accommodate up to 7,000 people. The dome itself, standing at 23 meters (75 feet) tall, was made of steel and glass, and added to the beauty of the structure.

As a result of its innovative design, the Jahrhunderthalle (Centennial Hall) became a significant reference point in the development of reinforced concrete structures throughout the 20th century. At the heart of the structure lies a superior dome with a lantern, which, when viewed from the inside, showcases a clearly visible pattern of the Iron Cross at its summit. During the Communist era in Poland, the central portion of the structure was covered to conceal this feature.

The Centennial Hall was originally equipped with a magnificent Sauer pipe organ, built by the renowned Walcker Orgelbau, which at the time of its installation was the largest in the world. With 15,133 pipes and 200 stops, it was a truly magnificent instrument. On September 24, 1913, renowned organist Karl Straube had the honor of being the first to play it, performing Max Reger's Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue, Op. 127, a piece specially composed to celebrate the occasion.

However, after the devastating effects of World War II, most parts of the organ were relocated to the reconstructed Wrocław Cathedral. Despite this, the Centennial Hall remains an important cultural landmark, showcasing the engineering and musical prowess of a bygone era.