Because of its situation on the axis of the main transport route in the city, its function and stylistic form, the railway station plays an important role in the urban space of the city.

History

The main railway station complex in Opole was built concurrently with the Upper Silesian railway line in the years 184-1844. The first, Classicist railway station was located between the railway lines towards east and west. Next to the passenger service building, technical facilities and elements of railway station infrastructure were created.

In the beginning of the 20th century, the railway station buildings was replaced with a new one, comprised of two buildings designed in the Historicist style - the main one (also between the platforms, slightly to the east from the former railway station) and the front one - the buildings were connected with an underground tunnel.

As a result of many alterations and modernisations, mainly in the second half of the 20th century, the architectural and aesthetic values of the historical railway station became illegible. In the end of 2014, renovation and regeneration works were completed and original appearance of the facility was restored, including, among other things, the cash desk hall décor.

Description

The complex of buildings of the main railway station is located at the exit of Krakowska Street which is the main road running from the Market Square. The complex is preceded by a square with the post office on the west, and constitutes the main transport hub of the city.

The main elements of the site include the imposing complex of two buildings of the railway station with the tunnel connecting them, platform shelters, post and telegraph building with an underground passage to the main post office, underground passage between platforms I and II, former railway administration building, and other facilities built in the interwar period.

The buildings are made of brick, with brick façades and stone and brick architectural detail.

The dominant element of the site is formed by a two-sectional facility built on the floor plan of an irregular polygon, comprising: the main passenger service building (housing, among other things, cash desks with wooden framework and fretwork decoration, and a waiting room), preceded by the front structure from the side of the Old Town. The buildings are connected with a underground tunnel - passageway running underneath the railway lines. The body was extended in an additive manner and is comprised of elements of various shapes (the central part is higher than the side wings) and covered with various roofs, with parapets and pinnacles. The brick façades in the bottom section are clad in stone lining and decorated with stone architectural detail. The main entrances to the buildings are topped with gables in decorative surrounds and allow access to them through glazed arcades which constitute the main visual accent of the façades. Both the façades as well as interiors of buildings are impressive.

To the south from the passenger service building, there are platforms I and II with shelter roofs resting on decorative cast iron columns with sculpted capitals. In the nearest vicinity of the building, there are: post and telegraph building (from the west) and railway administration building, both erected on a rectangular floor plan.

Elements of the complex are in use and generally accessible.

compiled by Aleksandra Ziółkowska, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Opole, 11-12-2015.

Bibliography

• Studium historyczno-urbanistyczne miasta Opola, oprac. J. Ilkosz, W. Wilczyńska-Koper, M. Wojtowicz, I. Rybka-Ceglecka, A. Wodzińska, B. Matejuk, PKZ Wrocław 1990, t. II, mps.
• M. Jarczyński, S. Koziarski, 150 lat kolei na Śląsku, Opole 1992.
• U. Zajączkowska, Opole 150 lat fotografii, Opole 2006.