The Gable House in Mikoszewo - History, Architecture and Royal Memories

In Mikoszewo, by the Vistula embankment, there is a remarkable example of Żuławy architecture - a gable house that is part of a former Dutch long-house farm. The residential building, constructed of wood in the early 19th century (around 1800-1805), captivates with its craftsmanship and rich architectural details. The post-and-beam construction rests on a high brick foundation, and its southern porch is supported by solid columns that give the building elegance and lightness.

The facades of the house are adorned with vertically clad gables and laubwerk openwork decorations visible in old photographs. The southern facade is three-axial with a two-level gable, while the eastern facade is seven-axial, with a porch on the three central axes. Baroque window frames and rich reliefs around the window frames and cornices give the building a unique character. The roof, in a truss-rafter construction, is covered with classic Dutch tiles.

The history of this place also dates back to Napoleonic times. On January 5-8, 1807, Queen Louise, wife of Prussian King Frederick William III, stayed at the house during her escape from Berlin to Königsberg from Napoleon's troops. According to tradition, she occupied a room in the western gable of the house, which then belonged to the host Kroeker. Legend has it that the queen engraved a poem by Goethe from "Wilhelm Meister" on a window pane - this pane was later supposed to have ended up in a Gdansk museum.