The Town Hall is located in the area of the Old Town, in a place that is rightly considered the most beautiful and most visited by tourists. The historic Royal Way, where the people solemnly welcomed the processions of Polish kings and nobles, where the magnificent stone houses of the wealthy burghers of the past are located, ran along Dluga and Dlugi Targ streets, and the Town Hall is located at their intersection.
This ornate Gothic structure was built between 1379 and 1492 by Antony van Oberbergen. Its observation tower by Dirk Daniels, over 80 metres high, soars high above the houses and offers a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside of Gdańsk. In the past, Polish town hall towers were often taller than the towers of cathedrals and churches, as a symbol of power. In Gdańsk, the grandiose tower dominates the narrow streets, the market square and the cramped neighbourhoods of the city. The richly decorated interior of the courtyard wings was decorated by Dutch and local 16th-century artists in the style of Dutch Mannerism.
In the middle of the 16th century, the Town Hall's structures were badly damaged. Later, its beauty was restored and enhanced by a gilded metal statue of King Sigismund II Augustus on the dome of the tower, as well as a beautiful clock with 14 bells, pleasing the townspeople and visitors with its quiet chime. Thus, two clocks, one of which is a sundial, appeared on the town hall.
The most respectable and richly decorated hall of the Town Hall is the majestic and solemn Great Hall of Soviets, or the Red Hall. It was decorated by the masters Simon Gerle, Hans Vredeman de Vries and Isaac van der Blocke. The latter's brush belonged to 25 images decorating the rafters of the hall. The most famous of them is the Renaissance plafond "The Apotheosis of Gdańsk Trade", which depicts the conclusion of a deal for the sale and purchase of grain between a nobleman and a merchant. The remarkable acoustics of the building contribute to the magnificent sound of the Baroque organ.
The architecture of the Town Hall is full of symbols and allegories: on one of the ceilings there are several sculptures representing diligence, wisdom, God's blessing and hard work. The Pomor's austere power, embodied in red brick, is also reflected here: the blank walls seem to be divided into steps forming niches, occasionally interrupted by windows. Baroque portal and intricate tower tops were added during the next rebuilding.
The Town Hall has always been the seat of the city authorities. Now its restored building houses the Historic City Museum, the Culture Centre, a café, a pub and a restaurant. The city is governed from the New Town Hall building.
The square in front of the Town Hall is one of the most crowded places in the city. It has long been the scene of demonstrations and celebrations, grand meetings of kings and knighting ceremonies.
