Preachers' House in Gdańsk


Preachers' House is a mannerist townhouse in Gdańsk, Poland. It is located in the centre of the historical Old Town at Katarzynki Street.

History

The house was constructed between 1599 and 1602 according to plans by a local architect Anthonis van Obberghen. Initially it housed flats for the Lutheran clergy serving in the nearby St. Catherine's Church. The façade, one of the very few in the area to survive World War II, is divided onto three distinct parts, which make the building look like three identical, yet separate town houses. This made the large building fit better with the surrounding narrow mediaeval town houses. It was a common feature of many of van Obberghen's projects, notably the Grand Armoury and the Green Gate. In front of the façade stands a characteristic gilded railing.
The three parts of the façade are tied together by an inscription in German language running right below the tops, reading "DIE AVF DEN HERRN HARREN KRIEGEN NEVE KRAFT DASS SIE AVFFAHREN MIT FLVEGELN WIE ADLER".
On 27 February 1967 the building was inscribed onto the cultural heritage register. It was fully restored and reconstructed in 1970. Currently it houses the Regional Endocrinological Health Centre.