Sint-Petersgasthuis, Bauwerk in den Niederlanden
Sint-Petersgasthuis is a former hospital building in Arnhem constructed around 1354 and still standing on Rijnstraat today. It features brick walls with small towers and decorative arches, a large hall with original wooden ceiling beams, and beneath the structure lie extensive stone-vaulted cellars used historically for storage.
The building originated around 1354 as a residence and mint before becoming a hospice in 1407. After the Reformation and iconoclasm of 1579, it remained a shelter for the poor until around 1850, when it was sold to private owners and used as a wine merchant's storage and later as an antique shop.
The Sint-Petersgasthuis served as a place of care for the poor and sick, embodying community support through what were then called the seven works of mercy. The building's name honours Saint Peter, its patron saint, whose statue stands atop the facade as a visible reminder of its spiritual purpose.
The building today serves as offices and a customer service center, so it is not open as a museum to visitors. You can view the exterior and explore the medieval cellars below through guided tours that show the historic stone vaults and original storage spaces.
Beneath the building lies an underground network of vaulted cellars once used for storing wine and goods, still intact with their original stone arches today. These cellars rank among the oldest and most extensive in Arnhem, revealing how medieval builders created storage spaces beneath the city.
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