The large arsenal ( Polish. Wielka Zbrojownia , Ger . Große Zeughaus ) is one of the landmarks of Gdansk , an architectural monument of the beginning of the 17th century. A large arsenal with one facade enters the Coal Market ( Polish. Targ Węgloweg ), the other - onto Beer Street ( Polish. Ulica Piwna ). It is adjacent to the older defensive Straw Tower of the XIV century.
A large arsenal was built in 1600–1609 according to the design of the Flemish architect Antoni van Obberghen in the style of Dutch Mannerism (Renaissance), the facade decorations were designed by Wilhelm van der Meer and Abracham van der Bloom (Abracham van der Blocke). Among the decorative elements of the facade of the building - the emblem of Gdansk and the statue of the Roman goddess Minerva .
A large arsenal was used for its intended purpose, that is, as an armory, until the XIX century. The building was rebuilt more than once and was almost destroyed during the bombing of Gdansk in 1945. Recreated in 1947-1965. in the alleged forms of the XVII century.
After the restoration work of 2000-2005. On the ground floor of the Big Arsenal there is a grocery store, and the upper floors are occupied by the Academy of Fine Arts .
Illustration from the 1952 guidebook
Main entrance
Facade from the side of the coal market
Sources
- Grzegorz Rudziński. Das Goldene Buch Danzig. - BONECHI-GALAKTYKA, 2001. - p. 13. - 128 p. - ISBN 88-476-0518-0 .
- Krzysztof Berenthal, Stanisław Sikora, Edward Klamann. Gdansk: the city of my dreams. - Tessa. - p. 16. - 128 p. - ISBN 83-88882-48-1 .