位于盤門內東大街(jie)11號,1956年被(bei)列為江蘇省文物(wu)保(bao)護單位,現由蘇州市文物(wu)管(guan)理(li)委(wei)員會保(bao)護管(guan)理(li)。
開元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺(si)初名通玄寺(si),三(san)國東(dong)吳赤烏年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間孫(sun)權為乳母陳氏所建(jian)。隋開皇(huang)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))吳縣令(ling)孫(sun)寬廢寺(si),唐(tang)貞觀(guan)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(628年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧慧重(zhong)興(xing)。開元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)二(er)十六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))詔令(ling)改名。大(da)順二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(891年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),孫(sun)儒占據蘇州,開元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺(si)被付之一(yi)炬。五代后唐(tang)同光三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(925年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳越錢氏遷建(jian)開元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺(si)于盤門內現址。宋(song)至明(ming)(ming)屢經(jing)廢興(xing)。清咸豐十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))又(you)(you)毀于兵火,同治十二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1873年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))稍事(shi)重(zhong)修,未(wei)復舊(jiu)觀(guan)。無梁殿(dian)是開元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺(si)現在僅存的一(yi)座古建(jian)筑(zhu)無梁殿(dian)即藏(zang)經(jing)閣,建(jian)于明(ming)(ming)萬歷四十六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1618年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))。原先供(gong)奉無量(liang)壽佛,又(you)(you)名無量(liang)殿(dian);又(you)(you)以純為磨磚嵌(qian)縫縱橫(heng)拱券結構(gou)(gou),不用木構(gou)(gou)梁柱(zhu)檁椽(chuan),故習稱無梁殿(dian)。
開(kai)元寺無(wu)梁(liang)殿(dian)是(shi)(shi)江蘇(su)省(sheng)現(xian)存五座無(wu)梁(liang)殿(dian)中(zhong)建遲、制作(zuo)精的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)座。殿(dian)坐(zuo)北朝南(nan),兩層(ceng)樓閣式(shi),面闊七(qi)間(jian),寬(kuan)20.9米(mi),進深11.2米(mi),通高約(yue)19米(mi)。歇山頂及腰檐敷綠間(jian)黃琉璃筒瓦,與清水磚(zhuan)外墻(qiang)面相映成趣。正面上下各有半圓(yuan)磚(zhuan)倚(yi)柱6根,下置(zhi)雕花須彌座,轉角用垂蓮柱。正面正中(zhong)開(kai)拱(gong)門三個,左右各置(zhi)拱(gong)形窗(chuang)(chuang),在上層(ceng)相對位置(zhi)開(kai)拱(gong)形窗(chuang)(chuang)5個,明(ming)間(jian)是(shi)(shi)明(ming)窗(chuang)(chuang),其(qi)余是(shi)(shi)假窗(chuang)(chuang)。柱間(jian)有刻南(nan)無(wu)阿彌陀佛的(de)(de)(de)華版及大小(xiao)枋子。明(ming)間(jian)檐下是(shi)(shi)磚(zhuan)制斜拱(gong),上泵副檐。繞有雕刻的(de)(de)(de)平座欄(lan)桿,圖(tu)案十分典雅,而且雕工(gong)精細(xi),宛如(ru)一(yi)件杰出的(de)(de)(de)工(gong)藝(yi)品。
殿(dian)內上下層各分為(wei)三大(da)間,用(yong)縱橫磚(zhuan)砌(qi)卷筒結(jie)構(gou),置扶梯于左(zuo)面側墻內。原(yuan)先樓(lou)上藏經(jing)(jing),樓(lou)下供佛。二層明(ming)間采用(yong)斗拱承托八(ba)角形的磚(zhuan)制(zhi)藻井的穹窿(long)結(jie)構(gou),四壁鑲嵌明(ming)代章藻手書《梵綱(gang)經(jing)(jing)》、《華嚴(yan)經(jing)(jing)》石刻。殿(dian)頂及腰檐覆蓋綠、黃(huang)二色琉璃瓦、與青磚(zhuan)墻面組成和諧(xie)的色調。正脊飾(shi)以琉璃游龍,戧角雕塑四大(da)天王立像。建(jian)筑(zhu)無(wu)不工細精(jing)巧,于宏偉(wei)莊重中(zhong)寓(yu)玲瓏華麗之美,堪稱明(ming)代建(jian)筑(zhu)精(jing)品(pin)。這座無(wu)梁殿(dian)在莊嚴(yan)中(zhong)顯(xian)現出玲瓏秀(xiu)麗之姿,充分反映(ying)了古(gu)老蘇州的建(jian)筑(zhu)藝(yi)術在明(ming)代已達到(dao)一個相(xiang)當(dang)完美和諧(xie)的境界,故(gu)有“結(jie)構(gou)雄杰冠江南”之譽。現為(wei)第七批全(quan)國(guo)重點文物保護單位。