Palace under the Heads

The Palace under the Heads is a Classicist building from the late 18th century at plac Żołnierza Polskiego 2 in Szczecin (on the Staromłyńska 1 side). It consists of two buildings joined in 1889. Today it houses cultural institutions, among them the Museum of Contemporary Art, a branch of the National Museum in Szczecin.

Military, then culture

The museum's website describes the building as the former headquarters of the garrison of the Szczecin fortress, built in the last quarter of the 18th century and later remodelled many times. From 1889 until the end of the Second World War the palace served the military authorities. After postwar reconstruction, in 1958, it was handed over to cultural institutions. The western part houses the Klub 13 Muz, founded, according to the Wikipedia entry, by Gałczyński during his brief stay in Szczecin, and the eastern part the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Origin of the name

The name comes from the nine heads that decorate the gables of the windows. Before the war the lintels of the first-floor windows bore the heads of ancient heroes. During the postwar reconstruction and later renovation they were replaced with the heads of nine people from Szczecin connected with culture. Their creator, Sławomir Lewiński, wanted in this way to emphasise the still young Polishness of the city. In several rooms inside the original stucco work has survived.

Practical information

• Address: plac Żołnierza Polskiego 2 / ul. Staromłyńska 1, Szczecin. The Museum of Contemporary Art gives its address as Staromłyńska 1.
• The building has been entered in the heritage register since 1954.
• The National Museum in Szczecin gives opening hours and visiting rules on muzeum.szczecin.pl under Tickets / Opening hours; check them there before your visit.
• Nearby stand the Palace of the Pomeranian Estates' Diet and the Royal Gate (about 0.2 km).