Palace of the Pomeranian Estates' Diet

The Palace of the Pomeranian Estates' Diet, also known as the House of the Landed Gentry or the Landeshaus, is a Baroque building at Staromłyńska 27 in Szczecin. Today it houses a branch of the National Museum in Szczecin, the Museum of Regional Traditions.

Construction and appearance

According to the Wikipedia entry, the building was erected in 1726-1729 on the commission of the Prussian king Frederick William I (the museum's website gives the years 1726-1727). It was designed by Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe, and the sculptures on the facade are the work of Barthélemy Damart. The building is in the style of northern, classicising Baroque, with a rusticated facade, decorative window surrounds, a balustrade on the balcony and the external stairs, and a mansard roof.

The tympanum draws the eye: it bears the coat of arms of the King of Prussia against a panoply and two personifications, Prudence with a mirror and a snake and Justice with scales and a sword. Just above the entrance is the coat of arms of Pomerania. This arrangement of arms was meant to emphasise Pomerania's subordination to the King of Prussia.

Seat of the Estates, then a museum

The building was erected as the seat of the assembly of the Pomeranian Estates. In 1885-1888 it was extended with an additional wing and the part facing Staromłyńska Street was lengthened. In 1926-1927 the building was restored and adapted as a museum, and the meeting chamber of the former Diet of the Estates was turned into an exhibition hall. The building has been entered in the heritage register since 1954.

Today

According to the museum's website, the palace houses the Museum of Regional Traditions, described there as being in the process of being set up. Older studies, including the Wikipedia entry, describe an old art gallery in this building with exhibitions on art at the court of the Pomeranian dukes; the museum provides information on current exhibitions. The palace stands next to the Palace Under the Globe and the Palace under the Heads.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Staromłyńska 27, Szczecin.
• The building is run by the National Museum in Szczecin, which gives opening hours and admission rules on muzeum.szczecin.pl under Tickets / Opening hours; check them there before your visit.
• In the immediate vicinity stand the Royal Gate (about 0.1 km) and the Ducal Castle.