A Town Hall Unlike Others

Gdansk, Poland

July 23, 2025

Like all other old towns in Poland, Gdansk too has a Town Hall. It stands tall on Dluga street next to the Neptune Fountain and the carillons chime a tune every hour from its bell tower.

But this one is home to the Gdansk History Museum, said to have treasures that were hidden away during WWII and so escaped destruction. The most spectacular is supposed to be the Red Room which served as the seat of City Council. It does not disappoint. A step inside and I am stunned. The room is small but decorated in the Dutch Mannerist style with every inch of the walls and ceiling richly decorated with paintings, frescoes or other ornamentations. I crane my neck to see the paintings on the ceiling, wishing I could lie flat on the floor instead.

In addition to the twenty-five paintings on the ceiling, there are several on the walls. Created in late 16^th century, recent restorations have revived the colors.

The rest of the museum is lackluster with some silver dinnerware and heavy old wardrobes with fancifully carved posts and doors. But the tower beckons and I climb up to the viewing platform.

The storm clouds from the past couple of days are gone and Gdansk lies spread out below. The white of the walls and red of the roofs glint in the sunshine, making it picture-perfect. I can see all the way up and down Dluga street on either side and finally see the whole of the mammoth St. Mary’s church.