| Torture Chamber | |
|---|---|
 The Torture Chamber as it appeared in 2013 | |
 Interactive map of Torture Chamber | |
| General information | |
| Location | Targ Węglowy 26 Gdańsk,Poland |
| Coordinates | 54°20′59″N18°38′49″E / 54.3498°N 18.6470°E /54.3498; 18.6470 |
| Completed | 1410 (initial) 1604 (current) |
| Owner | Gdańsk Museum [pl] |
| Designated | 1994-09-08 |
| Part of | Gdańsk – city within the 17th-century fortifications |
| Reference no. | M.P. 1994 nr 50 poz. 415[1] |
TheTorture Chamber (Polish:Katownia;German:Painkammer) is a building located in centralGdańsk. One of a series ofcity gates, it was constructed in the 16th century. Aprison from much of its history, its name comes from the fact it was used for purposes oftorture. It is on theregional heritage list.[2]
The Torture Chamber consists of a red, two-sided roof. Below the roof, variousbusts are carved, sticking out of the walls, and at one of its ends is a distinctive, tall tower topped off withcopper.[3] One of the busts was partly destroyed in 1945, cutting off its head and uniquely revealing its internal anatomical features.[4]
In the 14th century, a building was constructed to accompany a gate of the growingcity walls of Gdańsk, completed in 1410.[3] When new fortifications, including theHighland Gate, were built there in the late 16th century, it became obsolete and was rebuilt and expanded by the architectAnthonis van Obbergen from 1593 to 1604. The building transformed into a prison, with severaltorture chambers and acourtroom.[5]
The building remained the municipal prison[6] until 1861. It was renovated from 1888 to 1890 and, in 1894, was acquired by the Danzig Association of Artists (German:Verein Danziger Künstler), eventually also becoming anantique shop,museum oftorture devices, and, after 1932,International Red Cross location.[3]
In March 1945, during thesiege of Danzig, the building was lightly damaged. It was gradually reconstructed from 1951 to 1973. In 1973, the building's owner became theGdańsk Museum [pl], which set up a Criminology Workshop of theUniversity of Gdańsk, which gathered the goods for the eventual founding of a prison museum, an idea that would never be realized.[3]
In 2006, an amber museum opened in the Torture Chamber, which was moved in 2021 to theGreat Mill.[7][8] Now once again without purpose, various ideas have been floated for reconstructing the Chamber's interior spaces.[9]