Gdansk’s Great Armoury — Renaissance Gem Now Home to Art Academy

Walking from Targ Węglowy toward the Main Town, it’s hard to pass by the Great Arsenal without noticing — its brick-and-sandstone facade adorned with allegorical sculptures stands out sharply against the surrounding tenements. But what’s even more intriguing is happening inside: this Renaissance arsenal has been shaping painters and architects for seventy years.

Built in Case of War with Sweden

The Great Arsenal was constructed between 1602 and 1605, during a time when Gdańsk increasingly felt the growing military ambitions of Sweden, and the city was not particularly prepared for a potential conflict. The extensive weapons and ammunition storage was meant to give residents a real sense of security—and indeed, the building served this purpose for decades before it gradually began storing paintings, sculptures, and other works of art.

It was designed by Antoni van Obberghen, one of the leading architects working in Gdańsk at the time. The inspiration came from meat halls in Haarlem, Netherlands—hence the facade of Dutch red brick, adorned with sandstone details and rich gilding, which looks as if it were transported straight from Amsterdam rather than from the Motława river.

A Facade Without Equal in the Main Town

The monumental facade facing Targ Węglowy is one of the most frequently photographed architectural details in the Main Town—allegorical sculptures, Gdańsk’s coats of arms, and richly decorated gables in a distinctly Dutch, mannerist style. Unlike most buildings in the Main Town, which were rebuilt after the war in a historicist spirit, the Great Armoury has retained its original Renaissance character—it is one of the few structures in Gdansk where architecture speaks directly about how wealthy and influential the city was at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries.

War Damage and New Life

During the war, the building was severely damaged—after the war ended, only the outer walls of the Great Arsenal remained. However, reconstruction proceeded relatively quickly by postwar standards, and in 1954 an art school relocated from Sopot moved into the building.

Academy of Fine Arts — a school in a historic building

Since 1954, the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk (which received its name and status by presidential decree in 1996) has been located in the Great Armoury — home to the Painting Faculty and the Faculties of Architecture and Design, as well as the rectorate, library, and administration. It’s a rare combination: a Renaissance monument of cultural heritage that, rather than becoming just another tourist attraction, lives on every day as an active higher education institution.

Zbrojownia Sztuki — gallery on the ground floor

Since 2015, Zbrojownia Sztuki has operated on the ground floor of the building—a exhibition space run by the Academy of Fine Arts, divided into a main hall for large-scale exhibitions and smaller galleries for design and graphic art shows. This is the only part of the building open to visitors daily—the rest of the Great Armoury is normally a functioning academic building, not a museum space. Check the Zbrojownia Sztuki website before your visit for current exhibition programs and opening hours, as schedules change with the academic calendar.

How to See It in Practice

The facade itself is accessible at any time—just a street along Targ Węglowy that you’ll naturally pass on the route between the station and Long Market. If there’s an exhibition currently running at Zbrojownia Sztuki, entering the ground floor is a natural extension of your walk, without needing to plan a full-day visit. For architecture lovers, this is one of those spots worth slowing down for—take time to examine the details: sculptures, roof decorations, and the facade’s proportions—rather than just snapping a quick photo.

The building sits literally on the Royal Route path, so if you’re planning a walk through the Main Town, simply avoid turning too early toward Long Market.

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Staying near Stare Miasto and looking for more architectural details along the way? Check out our apartments in Bastion Wałowa—just minutes from Targ Węglowy—or contact our concierge for a longer walking route tailored to your interests.