A privately-owned town until 1559, this building and property go back to the very beginnings of Gorlice. The town was founded by the Karwacjans - a middle-class family that historians believe may have come to Poland from Italy or France, and settled in Kraków in the early 14th century, establishing themselves as bankers and brewers. Dersław (Dziersław) I Karwacjan was second generation and likely purchased the Gorlice lands from King Kazimierz the Great between 1350 and 1360. When Dersław I died in Kraków around 1400, his son, Dersław II began developing the town, and built a defensive residential tower surrounded by a moat on this site in the early 15th century. From then on the building's history and makeup get pretty murky until its total destruction during World War I in 1915. Once the town's most important building, its status had apparently tumbled to the point that it was used as a quarry for rebuilding other nearby buildings after the war. Apparently the townspeople began to have remorse very soon afterwards, however, as steps were taken to save the site, and get it under the stewardship of the city. The current building was completed in 1992, based on a design by local architect Krzysztof Filar, which features a Latin inscription that translates to 'Life is short, art is long.' How faithful any of it is to what may have once stood here, we're not sure, but you can likely find out by visiting.

Today the building is a small museum and art gallery that features changing temporary exhibits, as well as permanent displays about the building's history and restoration, including original architectural relics from the 16th century. The ticket price is indicative of the quality of the permanent exhibits, but you never know what you could get in terms of art. Regardless, there's no doubt that this unique and handsome building improves Gorlice's urban landscape. In front of the entrance you'll find a monument to Dersław I, as well as a sgraffito from the city's 650th anniversary celebrations in 2005.