Under the Globe Palace

Academy of Art in Szczecin

Pałac pod Globusem

Pałac pod Globusem

address: pl. Orła Białego 2, 70-562 Szczecin

The Under the Globe Palace - the Academy’s headquarters - is a beautiful historic building, which underwent in 2013-2014 a thorough modernization as part of the project: Akademia Changes Szczecin: Pałac pod Globusem. A development plan for this building was already finalised in October 2010, taking into account the university’s teaching needs and the expectations of Szczecin’s residents – we were keen to create a public space accessible to both residents and tourists. Today, the Palace hosts around 310 artistic events each year. We invite you to concerts, exhibitions, open lectures, workshops and consultations. We showcase art created by our students, lecturers and guest speakers.

The Palace under the Globe is the most beautiful and best-preserved building of its kind in Szczecin. The original Baroque residence that stood on this site was known as Grumbkow Palace (as the seat of Filip Otto von Grumbkow, Chief President of the Province of Pomerania). It was designed by the Frenchman Piotr de Montarque, built between 1724 and 1725, and the sculptural decoration was carried out by the royal court artist, Johan Georg Glume. It was in this building, in 1759, that Zofia Dorota of Württemberg, later Maria Feodorovna, wife of Tsar Paul I, was born.

In 1890, it was purchased by the ‘National’ Insurance Company and thoroughly rebuilt. The palace has survived to this day in this form, whilst its original appearance has been preserved in, amongst other things, the corridors, staircases and certain rooms. The globe that crowns the gable – and from which the building derives its current name – was a symbol of the global reach of the ‘National’ company’s interests. The palace survived the Second World War almost unscathed.

fot. Janusz Piszczatowski

Today, the palace is the most imposing building on Orła Białego Square – a square which, in the 18th century, was regarded as the city’s most prestigious location. To this day, many of the buildings situated here attract the attention of tourists. In addition to the Palace under the Globe, the square also features other monuments worthy of attention. We are situated next to the Ionic Palace (so named for its distinctive Ionic-style ornamentation), which has been the headquarters of banks almost continuously since the 19th century. There is also the Classicist Palace, known as Bartz Palace, and Velthusen Palace, which houses a music school. The beauty of Orła Białego Square is further enhanced by the sculpture of Flora, which was originally situated within the Palace under the Globe, and the White Eagle Fountain, from which the square takes its current name.

The building houses the galleries of the Academy of Art in Szczecin:

Rector's Gallery
R + Gallery
ZONA Gallery

concert halls, photo studios and beautifully situated painting studios.