Gimnazjalna, Libelta and Szwalbego streets in Bydgoszcz


Gimnazjalna, Libelta and Szwalbego streets are laid in downtown district of the city of Bydgoszcz. Many of the buildings along this axis are either registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, or part of a quaint architectural ensemble of the city.

Location

The three streets are lined up on a south-west north-east axis in downtown, parallel to Gdańska Street on the west.
Gimnazjalna street heads northbound from Plac Wolnosci and ends at the crossing with Krasiński Street.
Libelta street starts from this intersection up north till crossing Kołłątaja street.
Szwalbego street is the shortest, only 60m in length: from the intersection with Kołłątaja street, it heads north east to join the square where stands the Bydgoszcz Pomeranian Philharmonic.

History

The street was originally a track leaving the Weltzin Platz to the north along the 19th century building of the Gymnasium.
First reference to this path is made on 1876 map by Paul Berthold Jaekel, where a street leaving the Weltzin Platz along the newly built Gymnasium is displayed, without any naming.
On the 1880 address book of Bromberg, the appellation "Gymnasialstraße" appears for the first time, with only one reference: the current building at Gimnazjalna No.2.

Naming

Through history, this axis has borne the following names:
The name comes from the gymnasium school located in the street.
Patron name comes from Karol Libelt, a Polish philosopher, writer, political and national activist.
This pathway was originally part of Libelta street. In 2007, it received the name of :pl:Andrzej Szwalbe|Andrzej Szwalbe, a Polish lawyer, social and cultural activist, first director of Pomeranian Philharmonic.

Main edifices

Gimnazjalna Street

Freedom Square –

Freedom Square stands as an elegant place, ornamented by Art Nouveau buildings, a historical church, a memorial and a green park. This is a location for recreational activities as well as military and official ceremonies.

High School No. 1 –

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.601432, reg. A/989, May 28, 1991
1876
Neo-Gothic
High School No.1 "Cyprian Kamil Norwid" is the oldest secondary school in Bydgoszcz, located on Plac Wolnosci. According to the latest national rankings, it is one of the two best high schools in Bydgoszcz.

Tenement at No.2

1920–1930, by Bronisław Jankowski
Eclecticism
This tenement is a late addition to the house at No.2a from the 19th century. Together, the complex was devoted to health service. As a hospital for women during World War II, then in the 1970s as a clinic for lung diseases until 1993.
Few architectural details still prevail: only an avant-corps in the corner with Plac Wolnosci and a large pediment that crowns the blind facade.

Villa Jan Król, at No.2a

1865
Neoclassical architecture
Former Weltzin Platz 5, the house was initially constructed for a master mason, as a villa. In 1880, it was the property of Anton Czarnecki, a rentier and merchant owner also in the 1890s of the tenement at Krasiński Street No.9. During the interwar, a neighbouring was completed as an addition to No.2 for Dr Jan Król, a specialist in nervous diseases. It was used as a hospital for women between 1930 and 1945.
In 1975, the ensemble housed the Provincial Clinic of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases till 1993, when the health institution was transferred to Seminaryjna street No.11. Deeply renovated in 2015, it now houses a business incubator facility supported by the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship loan fund. Nearby the villa grows a ginkgo identified as Natural landmark of Bydgoszcz.
The villa displays beautiful neo-classical features: symmetry in the facade, ionic order columns flanking balconies, a curly motifs frieze on the top, a large pediment capping the ensemble. Above the entry portal has been restored the original caduceus which recalls the initial medical focus if the villa. On the green part left of the building, one can enjoy the refurbished fountain with a lion's head and a shell-shape stone bowl.

Tenement at No.4

1880
Eclecticism
Former Gymnasialstraße 1, the first owner was Anton Czarnecki, a rentier and merchant who lived there until he moved in the 1890s in his new acquisition at Krasiński Street No.9. It then was used as a residential tenement: in the 1910, the landlord of Nos.4, 6 and 8 was the Baron von Lüttichau, chamberlain to the Princess Elisabeth of Prussia. After 1920, houses at Nos.4, 6 and 8 have been owned by the same person, Mr Kierski
The main elevation, renovated in 2016, shows some classical details, with each floor having its own features, a slight avant-corps, and a delicate frieze with winged animals as motifs.

Tenement at No.6

1880
Eclecticism
Former Gymnasialstraße 2, the first owner was Anton Czarnecki, a rentier and merchant who possessed also the tenement at Nos.4 and 8. It then was used as a residential tenement: in the 1890s, half of the tenants were teachers at the "gymnasium" across the street. In 1910, the landlord of Nos.4, 6 and 8 was the Baron von Lüttichau, chamberlain to the Princess Elisabeth of Prussia. After 1920, houses at Nos.4, 6 and 8 have been owned by the same person, Mr Kierski.
The main elevation, renovated in 2015, echoes its neighbours at Nos.4 and 8 with its classical details.

Tenement at No.8

1885
Eclecticism
Former Gymnasialstraße 3, the first owner was Anton Czarnecki, a rentier and merchant who possessed also the tenement at Nos.4 and 6. It then was used as a residential tenement: in the 1890s, half of the tenants were teachers at the "gymnasium" across the street. In 1910, the landlord of Nos.4, 6 and 8 was the Baron von Lüttichau, chamberlain to the Princess Elisabeth of Prussia. After 1920, houses at Nos.4, 6 and 8 have been owned by the same person, Mr KierskiAfter 1920, houses at Nos.4, 6 and 8 have been owned by the same person, Mr Kierski.
The main elevation, renovated in 2015, echoes its neighbours at Nos.4 and 6 with its classical details.

Building at the intersection with Krasiński Street">Zygmunt Krasiński Street in Bydgoszcz">Krasiński Street

1899
Former Gymnasialstraße 4, it is since its construction the sport building of specialized educational centre for blind children located at Krasiński Street No.10.
The building had its interiors refurbished end of 2015.

Libelta Street

Tenement at No.2, corner with Krasiński street
1896, by Karl Bergner
Eclecticism, Historicism
The first landlord at then Fröhnerstraße 10 was Anton Czarnecki, a rentier and merchant, who moved there in 1898 and stayed till the early 1920s.
The designer of this tenement, :pl:Karl Bergner|Karl Bergner, realized many other buildings in the city, such as:
The present one displays eclectic architectural details, a ground floor underlined by the arched entry gate flanked by pilasters, topped by a mask, the ensemble being overlooked by a bay window with bossages. The first floor is the most decorated, mainly with the effort put in the window framings. Each of them is ornamented with accuracy by pilasters, columns, balustrade on the bottom and pediments on the top. The variety of shapes, forms and motifs could even be labelled as Neo-Baroque influence. The upper level is crowned by a corbel table shaped in animal figures.

Tenement at No.4

1897-1898
Neoclassical architecture
First mention of this house dates back to 1905, as a property of the Evangelist Community in Bromberg. There were located the parish home and offices of the local Evangelical Polish parish established in 1920. In 1932, at the location was the local temple of Polish evangelicals. Since 2013, it is leased to a social association "Kreatywni" to run a youth hostel, Pałacyk.

Tenement at No.5

1928-1929, by Bogdan Raczkowski
Modern Architecture
In the building lived :pl:Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki|Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki, a Polish literary and theater critic, playwright, translator, writer and director. A long time friend with Witold Bełzą, then director of the Provincial and Municipal Public Library, he died in Bydgoszcz in his flat at No.5. As required in his will, his legacy -manuscripts, private library, more than 300 works- were moved to Bydgoszcz Municipal Library. The institution still tends his last place at No.5, as a small museum in his memory.
On the frontage has been unveiled in 1988 a commemorative plaque.
The building boasts early modernist style, as one can find also at Jagiellońska street No.51/57 and 107.

Villa at No.8

1898
Historicism & early Art Nouveau
Initially located at Roonstraße 5/6, the building dates back from the first time of Roonstraße, today's Kołłątaja street. At the time, access to the villa was only possible through this street. At its construction, the villa was the seat of Bydgoszcz's lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and local lodge of the B'nai B'rith. The house was stormed on November 26, 1938 by local police and closed, as a consequence of the nazi enabling Act of 1933.
The building has been auctioned in June 2015.
The edifice displays early signs of Art Nouveau style, allowing the villa to appear less massive. The asymmetry of the ensemble contributes to this feeling: the entry gate is oriented on the side, topped by a facet bay window and flanked on the opposite side by an avant-corps.

Tenement at No.10, corner with Kołłątaja street">Kołłątaja street in Bydgoszcz">Kołłątaja street No.2

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, Reg.A/1638, July 9, 2013
1901–1902, by George Weiß
Eclecticism, forms of Art Nouveau
Initially at the corner of Roonstraße and Bachmannstraße streets, the architect Georg Weiss made it his own house, before moving the second one he built in 1907 at Gdańska Street No.141. After the restoration of Poland in 1920 and the Peace of Riga with USSR, the edifice housed displaced Polish families from the Eastern Borderlands. At the end of World War II, the building was devastated by Soviet armed forces, which had a hospital here. After the war, the municipality took over the management of the tenement, being unable to find back its owner.
Perfectly refurbished in 2005, the house is among the highest decorated building in Bydgoszcz: Art Nouveau motifs enlightens the facades. Today, it represents one of the pearls of Bydgoszcz architecture of the early 20th century.

Szwalbego Street

Arthur Rubinstein Music School building, at No.1
First Municipal Music School in Bydgoszcz has been established in 1925. The Primary Music School is housed in this building since 1954, moving from a tenement at Gdańska Street 54.
In 1991, the school receive the namesake of the great pianist Arthur Rubinstein: since 1993, every second year, is organised the International Competition for Young Pianists "Arthur Rubinstein in memoriam" sponsored by Eva Rubinstein, daughter of the artist.

Tenement at No.2, corner with [Hugo Kołłątaj] street No.1

1911, by Fritz Weidner
Landhaus style, Eclecticism
Initial address was Roonstraße 8/9-Bachmannstraße 11, it then changed to Libelta street 12 before the creation of Szwalbego street. The tenement has been built for a German housing cooperative, Beamten wohnungsverein GmbH. In 1920, it moved to its Polish equivalent structure, Towarzystwo mieszkaniowe.
The style reminds German Mansion outfits, with massive bay windows, variously shaped gables and asymmetry of the facade, for which Fritz Weidner was prone to. In 1909–1910, this house was identified as part of the winning selection in the Bromberg municipal competition for the most beautiful frontage.

Tenement at No.4

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.601375, Reg. A/991, October 1, 1991
1904–1905
Eclecticism
The first landlord of the tenement at then Bachmannstraße 12 was Emil Dittmann, a merchant. The gate still displays a cartouche with his interlaced initials ED. Today the building houses rooms for students from the Bydgoszcz Music Academy "Feliks Nowowiejski", located in the vicinity.
The tenement has the size of a large mansion, displaying balconies above the gate, an avant-corps, two peaked gables and French-window dormers giving on terraces. The elevation is richly decorated with vegetal motifs.