Gewandhaus, Gothic and Renaissance guild house on Altstadtmarkt, Braunschweig, Germany.
The Gewandhaus is a secular building on Altstadtmarkt featuring a striking east facade with three stories of columns, windows, and sculptures depicting virtues such as Hope, Courage, and Justice. The ground floor houses two restaurants, while upper levels have served as offices for the Braunschweig Chamber of Commerce since 1910.
First mentioned in 1303, this building served tailors as a storage and trading center, and the guild they formed became one of the most important in medieval Braunschweig. Its current form with Renaissance elements developed through major changes during the early modern period.
The building was long the center of cloth merchants, who played a key role in the medieval city. Today visitors can dine in one of the oldest dining cellars in Lower Saxony, which has served guests for centuries.
The building sits centrally on Altstadtmarkt and is easily reached from all main streets of the old town center. Since restaurants and shops are located here, visitors can easily have a meal or take a walk in the surrounding area.
During World War II, the building was destroyed in 1944, yet the striking east facade remained partially standing. A careful restoration from 1948 to 1950 brought the structure back to life while preserving historical elements.
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