Often confused with the older "Main" Town Hall, this marvellous 16th-century Renaissance building has a rich history, being closely associated with Jan Heweliusz, and today serves as a cultural centre in Gdańsk.
Believed to have been designed by Flemish architect Anton Van Obberghen, the Olf Town Hall was constructed in the second half of the 16th century, apparently replacing a pre-existing gothic structure. As a local government building, it was once home to the office of astronomer Jan Heweliusz, when he served as Old Town Council Lord. Centuries later, the building served as the headquarters of the Soviet Army during the dying days of WWII, probably because it was practically the only building to have survived the extensive bombings in 1945. Today, the building is open to the public and has become the focus of much creativity. Concerts are held upstairs and the superb Baltic Sea Cultural Centre have been living there since the early 90s. There's also a cellar restaurant, and a good bookshop on the ground floor.
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