Velthusen Palace

The townhouse was built after 1778 by the Dutch entrepreneur G. Christian Velthusen, who lived in Szczecin since 1769.

He was involved in importing wine, exporting wood as well as producing tobacco, sugar and vinegar. He stored French and Spanish wines in his cellars. He founded the "Green Vault" winery ("Grünes Gewölbe"). In 1874 the building was taken over by the Wolkenhauer piano factory and salon (Pianofortefabrik G. Wolkenhauer) founded in 1853. In 1921 the building was purchased by a public bank (Girozentrale Pommern).

Before World War II, antique portrait heads were placed in window lintels of the first floor, including Socrates, Seneca, Hadrian and other philosophers. The building was rebuilt in 1959-1962.

The heads of world and Polish composers were placed above the windows of the second floor.

Looking from Łaziebna street, you can see (left to right): E.H. Grieg, J.S. Bach, L. van Beethowen, C. Loewe, W.A. Mozart, J. Sibelius, C. Debussy, M. Glinka, A. Vivaldi, G. Verdi, I. Strawiński, S. Prokofiew, A. Dvorak, H. Wieniawski, I.J. Paderewski, B. Smetana. From Staromyńska street, you can see (left to right): F. Chopin, S. Moniuszko, F. Nowowiejski, K. Szymanowski.

The tympanum features a composition of figural and allegorical scenes related to grape harvesting.

The ceremonial handing over of the building to the Feliks Nowowiejski State Secondary Music School took place on 14 June 1963. Instrumentalists, singers and conductors known in the country and in Europe have graduated this school.