Great armory

Eastern front of the Great Armory to Jopengasse

The Great Armory (Polish: Wielka Zbrojownia ) in Danzig was built between 1600 and 1609 and was probably built according to plans by the architect Anton van Obberghen .

architecture

The armory, which served as an arsenal, is a typical example of Flemish mannerism in Gdansk. The facade on both sides of the building is divided into gables: four on Holzmarkt and two on the eastern front facing Jopengasse . This is followed by two towers on the sides. The tops of the gables are adorned with bronze sculptures of exploding cannon balls, which clearly indicate the purpose of the building. Two portals each with the coat of arms of Danzig are incorporated symmetrically on the left and right into the gable surfaces. A niche forms the central element of the facade, in which a statue of Athena is placed. In this niche, the builders have given the construction and renovation dates (1605, 1768, 1887).

There is a fountain in front of the building that was connected to the arsenal in the basement.

The rooms of the armory are used today by the Danzig Art Academy. There were also shops on the ground floor from the 1920s until around 2007.