A whispered question hangs in the air. Could these walls truly speak, what tales would the Görtz-Palais tell?
The Görtz-Palais stands before you. It is a building with a rich history in Hamburg’s Neustadt. This originally baroque structure is located at Neuer Wall 86.
Let’s journey back to the early 18th century. Imagine Georg Heinrich von Görtz. He was the envoy of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf. He commissioned this grand building around 1710. Architect Johann Nicolaus Kuhn designed it. At the time, it was the first building on Neuer Wall. The Görtz-Palais quickly became a Hamburg highlight. It stood out among the more modest houses. Initially, the Görtz-Palais featured exposed brickwork. But in 1776, it was plastered giving it the look we see today.
Kuhn’s design introduced a unique element to Hamburg. This element was a three-aisled entrance hall inspired by Italian architecture. Ironically, locals joked about Görtz. They quipped that the entrance should be labeled “Raubbeute aus Holstein”. This translates to “Spoils from Holstein”. Görtz had unfairly taken the land from his rival. His rival was Magnus von Wedderkop.
Görtz’s story took a dark turn. He was executed in Stockholm in 1719. Afterwards, from 1722 to 1806, the Görtz-Palais served as the residence. It housed the imperial envoy to the Hanseatic cities. Later, during the French occupation from 1811 to 1814, it became the Mairie. This is like a town hall under Mayor Amandus Augustus Abendroth.
From 1814, it became a municipal building. It housed Hamburg’s administration and police. Abendroth also founded the Hamburger Sparkasse there. The Sparkasse is a savings bank. In 1926, the Görtz-Palais received a colorful makeover. The Oberbaudirektor Fritz Schumacher had it painted yellow and red. A darker chapter unfolded from 1933. During the Nazi era, it became part of the Gestapo headquarters. But the infamous torture cellars were in the adjacent building.
Tragedy struck during the war. The Görtz-Palais suffered heavy damage in 1941 and 1943. Only the facade remained. Reconstruction began in 1953. Architect Carl-Friedrich Fischer rebuilt the Görtz-Palais. The baroque facade was restored. The rear sections were modernized. The interior received a modern design. The facade was simplified in some parts. From 1955 to 1977, it housed the headquarters of Germanischer Lloyd. Later, it served as an office building. In 2020, the Görtz-Palais was redeveloped. It became part of the Stadthöfe ensemble.
The Görtz-Palais is adorned with sandstone features. These include cornices and ionic pilasters. The facade has a three-bay central projection. The facade also has two-bay projections on each side. A balcony sits above the arched portal. It is supported by Tuscan columns. A segmental arch gable crowns the central projection. It was once decorated with figures and symbols.
Since 1928, the Görtz-Palais has been a protected monument. This protection was extended to the entire Stadthaus complex in 2009. Across from the Görtz-Palais lies Bürgermeister-Petersen-Platz. It features a monument to former Mayor Carl Friedrich Petersen. Below the square lies a WWII police bunker. The bunker’s structure remains largely intact.
The Görtz-Palais has witnessed Hamburg’s evolution. It has transformed from a private palace to a center of power. It stands as a testament to Hamburg’s resilience.