Piwnica pod Fortuną w Lublinie

Piwnica pod Fortuną is a medieval cellar vault decorated with polychrome paintings across its walls and ceiling. The interior is covered with botanical patterns, animal figures, and symbolic illustrations that fill the entire space.

In the 17th century, craftsmen decorated this cellar with paintings inspired by the Emblemata Saecularia book, published by the de Bry brothers in 1596. This work took place when such learned collections of images were spreading across Europe and influencing local decoration practices.

The walls display depictions of Venus, Amor, and the goddess Fortune, themes that were common across European Renaissance art of the time. These images tell stories about love, fate, and virtues that mattered to people living here.

Visitors can explore the cellar through guided tours that operate on most weekdays. It is helpful to check tour availability in advance, as opening times may vary seasonally.

This is the only known interior space where wall decorations directly reproduce illustrations from a Renaissance friendship book. The painters followed these images so closely that the cellar preserves a rare visual connection to a historical printed work.