Royal Chapel

The Royal Chapel in Gdańsk is a perfect example of Baroque sacral architecture. Operating today as a filial church, the chapel was of symbolic value in the 17th century. During a visit, it is worth to know that it was a Catholic haven for inhabitants of Gdańsk which was then dominated by Protestant denominations.

When St. Mary's Church was taken over by Protestants, the group of Catholics from Gdańsk with a help of King John III Sobieski built a chapel where masses were to be temporarily said. It is known today as the Royal Chapel.

Despite it was established as a temporary chapel and built in merely 3 years, its look doesn't deviate from other buildings in Gdańsk. The design of Tylman van Gameren assumed the construction of the chapel on a plan of Greek cross within rectangle and topping it with a dome on octagonal tholobate. The interior was skillfully decorated by the master of his craft - Andreas Schlüter.