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.