| Main City Hall | |
|---|---|
Ratusz Głównego Miasta | |
 The Main City Hall in 2013 | |
 Interactive map of Main City Hall | |
| General information | |
| Type | Town hall |
| Architectural style | Renaissance-Baroque |
| Location | Gdańsk, Poland |
| Construction started | 1346 |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Height | 83.45 metres |
| Historical Museum of the City of Gdańsk | |
| Designated | 1994-09-08 |
| Part of | Gdańsk – city within the 17th-century fortifications |
| Reference no. | M.P. 1994 nr 50 poz. 415[1] |
Main City Hall (Polish:Ratusz Głównego Miasta;German:Rechtstädtisches Rathaus) is a historictown hall located inGdańsk, Poland, within theMain City borough of theDowntown district. It is one of the finest examples of theGothic-Renaissance historic buildings in the city, built at the intersection ofUlica Długa andDługi Targ, in the most popular part of Gdańsk.[2] The Main Town Hall in Gdańsk houses the History Museum of the City of Gdańsk.[3]
The Main Town Hall inGdańsk is located onUlica Długa, part of the Royal Route. The building is located in the building complex, surrounded by Ulica Długa, Kramarska Street, Piwna Street, and Kaletnicza Street, located at the corner of the first two. The building is the second highest building in theMain City (afterSt. Mary's Church), and is in the most notable part ofŚródmieście inGdańsk. Access to the building by car is difficult, as Ulica Długa is pedestrianised all year around. The public transport does not reach the building. The closest tram stop is located at Podwale Przedmiejskie.[4]
The oldest fragments of the town hall come from 1327 to 1336 - the building was then much smaller in size, which led to its expansion in the subsequent years. In the fourteenth-century theMain City ofGdańsk was reconstructed, and in 1346 replaced the then enforcedLübeck law with theKulm law. The reform had separated the roles of thecity council and ława miejska (which was responsible for the judiciary). The separation of the two bodies led to the need for two separate halls for the two institutions. In 1357, in the location of the current town hall, a temporary town hall was located.[5]
The first major expansion of the building began in 1378, after the fullKulm law was given to the city. The expansion of the building was led by Henryk Ungerdin, and the reconstruction was complete in 1382. Between 1454 and 1457, with the relation of the arrival ofKingCasimir IV Jagiellon, the town hall was expanded. The town hall's tower was complete in the years of 1486-1488; the building of which was led by Henryk Hetzel. The tower was completed by Michał Enkinger, with a highdome in 1492, which had burnt down in 1494. In 1504, the town hall was visited byKingAlexander Jagiellon.[6]
After a fire in 1556, the town hall was rebuilt and expanded with Renaissance influences by Dutch architects and master-builders, including Wilhem van den Meer, Dirk Daniels, andAnthonis van Obbergen.[7] In 1561, agilded statue of the then reigning Polish KingSigismund II Augustus was placed at the top of the tower and acarillon was installed in the tower.[8]
The 'Red Room,' designed by Dutch architectHans Vredeman de Vries, can be considered one of the most outstanding examples of DutchMannerism in Gdańsk.[9]
Heavily damaged in WW2, with the loss of the top of the tower, the town hall was carefully repaired and reconstructed, largely complete by 1952.
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