Artus Court, Gdansk

The Artus Court was built by 1350. Today it is a branch of the Gdansk History Museum. The name Artus is derived from the legend of English King Arthur. Wherever knights and nobility would meet in Europe the name Arthur was often used as a sign of chivalry. Artus Courts in Poland were founded and used by the bourgeoisie.

The old court burned down in 1476. There were several restorations and in 1617 the court was rebuilt by Abraham van den Blocke. The style, as with the much of Gdansk buildings, is Dutch Mannerism. Statues of ancient heroes adorn the building. Scipio Africanus, Themistocles, Marcus Camillus and Judas Maccabeus stand guard.

The goddess Fortuna and allegories of strength and justice are on the gable. On each side of the portal are busts of King Sigismund III and Wladyslaw IV. The interior is an enormous Gothic hall. The walls are wainscoted with friezes of mythological and historical themes. There are paintings and tapestries, ship models and armor.

There is a 36 foot high furnace built in 1546. It is covered with more than five hundred tiles showing prominent European leaders of the time. Currently the court is open to the public along with the department of the Gdansk History Museum.

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Sight Name: Artus Court
Sight Location: Gdansk, Poland (See walking tours in Gdansk)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Gdansk, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Gdansk

Creating your own self-guided walk in Gdansk is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Gdansk's Historical Churches Tour

Gdansk has a long history of Catholicism, hence the abundance of spectacular churches here. Let's delve into some of the most impressive temples that grace the cityscape and see what they are.

Saint John's Church, a Gothic masterpiece, stands tall in the heart of Gdansk. It dates back to the 14th century and features impressive brickwork and intricate details. Its towering spire is a... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

Solidarity Union Walking Tour

For decades, the word 'Solidarity' (Polish: Solidarno艣膰) has been synonymous with the city of Gdansk. The peaceful Solidarity revolution, started here in the August of 1980, marked the outset of the fall of communism not only in Poland but also throughout Eastern Europe.

Stemmed from the country's first free labor union born out of strikes at the Lenin Shipyard (now the Gdansk... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles

Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour

The most probable source for the name, "Gdansk" seems to be "Gdania", the ancient name of the river Motlawa. Gdansk began with agriculture and fishing and trade with Pomerania in the 9th century. It was annexed by Mieszko, Duke of Poland, in 975.

The center of town was the Long Market, with its craftsmen. German merchant settlements grew by St Nicholas Church. Gdansk joined... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

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