A 210-Year-Old Gdańsk Landmark Returns to Form
One of Gdańsk's most quietly distinguished historic buildings is open again. The Uphagen Manor at 5 Grunwaldzka Avenue, known since its founding as "Mon Plaisir" (French for "My Pleasure"), has completed a thorough restoration that cost 4.45 million zlotys gross. The project was commissioned by the Municipality of Gdańsk through its property arm, Gdańskie Nieruchomości, and was first reported by whiteMAD.
Two Centuries of History on Grunwaldzka Avenue
The manor was built in 1814 as a summer residence for the Gdańsk-based Uphagen family. An earlier house on the same site, dating to the second half of the 18th century, was most likely destroyed during the military hostilities of 1807 or 1813. The estate once sat within a large park that extended on both sides of what is now Grunwaldzka Avenue. A reconstruction at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries gave the building the Classical appearance it carries today.
Its post-war biography is equally layered. The manor housed the Swedish Consulate after 1945, then served as Gdańsk's Wedding Palace from 1976 to 2001. After a 25-year gap, weddings will once again take place here.
What the Restoration Actually Involved
This was not a cosmetic refresh. The contractor, Wezambud from Żnin, selected through a public tender, carried out work in several distinct phases.
On the conservation side, original features were carefully preserved or reconstructed: wooden staircases, Classical-style doors from the first half of the 19th century, box windows with half-columns, wooden shutters, and panelling details. Stratigraphic analysis guided the colour restoration; shutters were repainted dark green, window frames white, and the historic brown distemper finish was retained on the staircases. Traditional plastering mortars replaced modern gypsum finishes throughout, keeping the rooms visually consistent with their original period.
The technical upgrades were equally substantial. A modern heating substation, new ventilation, updated sanitary fittings, lightning protection, fire safety systems, and a building management system were all installed. Thermal insulation was added to walls and ceilings from the inside, reducing heat loss without touching the exterior façade. Accessibility for people with reduced mobility was also improved.
This latest phase builds on earlier work: cellar renovations in 2004, a major roof overhaul between 2005 and 2006, and a full façade restoration carried out between 2017 and 2020.
The Architecture Worth Knowing
The manor's Classical composition remains intact: a stately façade, a central risalit, a terrace with a brick balustrade, and a hipped roof covered in ceramic tiles. The façades carry stucco friezes with ornamental motifs, rustication, and moulded cornices. Inside, the entrance halls retain their original scale and detailing. Visitors who know what to look for will find a building that reads as genuinely 19th-century rather than a reconstruction.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation operators near Grunwaldzka Avenue and the broader Wrzeszcz district now have a renewed landmark to reference when communicating with guests. The Uphagen Manor's return as a wedding venue means an increase in event-related visitors to the area, particularly on weekends. Hosts who position their properties as convenient bases for wedding guests, or who simply include the manor in local area guides, are well placed to capture that demand. The building's combination of genuine historical depth and modern accessibility also makes it a credible talking point for guests interested in Gdańsk beyond the Old Town.
Details of the Uphagen Manor restoration were first reported by whiteMAD, citing Gdańsk Real Estate and gdansk.pl as primary sources.
First reported by Gdansk Travel.