Palace "Under the Globe"

The "Pod Globusem" (Under the Globe) Palace in Szczecin, located at White Eagle Square, is a monument with a rich history. Initially built as the Grumbkow Palace between 1724 and 1725, it was designed by the French architect Pierre de Montarque, with sculptural decorations by Johann Georg Glume. The Baroque structure was distinguished by its representative facade and an axially positioned risalit. Around 1800, the palace was rebuilt in the Empire style, which enriched its architectural detail. In later years, the palace served as the residence of the Supreme President of the Pomeranian Province, Philipp Otto von Grumbkow, and was the birthplace of Princess Sophia Dorothea of Württemberg, later Empress Maria Feodorovna, wife of Tsar Paul I. In 1782, the property passed into the hands of the Szczecin merchant Friedrich Wietzlow, and then in 1890 it was purchased by the "National" Insurance Company. The old building was demolished, and in its place, a new structure was erected between 1890 and 1891, designed by the Berlin architect Franz Wichards. The current Neo-Baroque appearance of the palace is characterized by stone rustication on the lower part of the facade and a light clinker brick finish on the upper part. The globe standing atop the building gave it its name. Despite the destruction of other buildings due to bombings, the palace survived World War II without major damage. In the 21st century, it underwent renovation and now houses the Academy of Art in Szczecin, underscoring its cultural significance in the region.