位于盤門(men)內東大(da)街11號,1956年(nian)被(bei)列(lie)為江蘇(su)省文物(wu)保(bao)護單位,現由蘇(su)州市文物(wu)管理委員會保(bao)護管理。
開元(yuan)寺(si)初名通玄寺(si),三國(guo)東吳(wu)赤烏年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間孫(sun)權(quan)為(wei)乳母陳氏所建(jian)(jian)。隋開皇九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))吳(wu)縣令孫(sun)寬廢寺(si),唐貞觀二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(628年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧慧重興(xing)。開元(yuan)二(er)十(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))詔令改名。大順二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(891年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),孫(sun)儒占據蘇(su)州,開元(yuan)寺(si)被付之一炬(ju)。五代后唐同(tong)光(guang)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(925年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳(wu)越錢(qian)氏遷建(jian)(jian)開元(yuan)寺(si)于盤門內(nei)現(xian)址。宋至明屢經(jing)廢興(xing)。清咸(xian)豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))又毀于兵火(huo),同(tong)治(zhi)十(shi)(shi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1873年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))稍事(shi)重修,未復舊觀。無梁(liang)(liang)殿(dian)是開元(yuan)寺(si)現(xian)在僅存(cun)的一座(zuo)古建(jian)(jian)筑無梁(liang)(liang)殿(dian)即(ji)藏經(jing)閣,建(jian)(jian)于明萬歷四十(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1618年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))。原(yuan)先供(gong)奉無量(liang)壽佛,又名無量(liang)殿(dian);又以(yi)純為(wei)磨磚嵌(qian)縫縱橫拱(gong)券(quan)結構,不(bu)用木構梁(liang)(liang)柱(zhu)檁椽,故習稱(cheng)無梁(liang)(liang)殿(dian)。
開(kai)元寺無(wu)梁殿是江蘇省現存五(wu)座(zuo)無(wu)梁殿中(zhong)建遲、制(zhi)作(zuo)精(jing)的(de)一(yi)座(zuo)。殿坐北朝南,兩層樓閣(ge)式,面闊七間(jian)(jian)(jian),寬20.9米,進(jin)深(shen)11.2米,通高約(yue)19米。歇山頂及腰檐(yan)敷綠(lv)間(jian)(jian)(jian)黃琉璃筒瓦,與(yu)清水磚(zhuan)外墻面相(xiang)映成趣。正(zheng)(zheng)面上下(xia)各(ge)有(you)半圓磚(zhuan)倚柱6根,下(xia)置(zhi)(zhi)雕花須彌座(zuo),轉(zhuan)角用垂(chui)蓮柱。正(zheng)(zheng)面正(zheng)(zheng)中(zhong)開(kai)拱(gong)門(men)三個(ge),左右(you)各(ge)置(zhi)(zhi)拱(gong)形窗,在上層相(xiang)對(dui)位置(zhi)(zhi)開(kai)拱(gong)形窗5個(ge),明間(jian)(jian)(jian)是明窗,其余是假窗。柱間(jian)(jian)(jian)有(you)刻南無(wu)阿彌陀佛的(de)華版及大小枋子。明間(jian)(jian)(jian)檐(yan)下(xia)是磚(zhuan)制(zhi)斜(xie)拱(gong),上泵副檐(yan)。繞(rao)有(you)雕刻的(de)平座(zuo)欄桿(gan),圖案十分典雅,而且雕工(gong)精(jing)細,宛如(ru)一(yi)件杰(jie)出的(de)工(gong)藝品。
殿(dian)內上下(xia)層各(ge)分(fen)為三大(da)間,用縱橫磚砌卷(juan)筒結(jie)構(gou)(gou),置扶(fu)梯(ti)于左(zuo)面側(ce)墻內。原先樓(lou)上藏(zang)經,樓(lou)下(xia)供佛。二層明(ming)間采用斗拱承托八(ba)角形的(de)磚制藻井的(de)穹窿(long)結(jie)構(gou)(gou),四壁鑲嵌明(ming)代(dai)章藻手書(shu)《梵綱經》、《華(hua)嚴(yan)經》石刻。殿(dian)頂及腰檐(yan)覆蓋綠、黃二色琉(liu)璃瓦、與青(qing)磚墻面組成和(he)諧(xie)的(de)色調。正脊(ji)飾以琉(liu)璃游(you)龍,戧角雕塑四大(da)天(tian)王立像。建筑無不工細精(jing)巧(qiao),于宏偉莊(zhuang)重(zhong)中寓(yu)玲(ling)瓏華(hua)麗(li)之美,堪(kan)稱明(ming)代(dai)建筑精(jing)品。這(zhe)座(zuo)無梁殿(dian)在莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)中顯現出玲(ling)瓏秀麗(li)之姿,充分(fen)反映了古(gu)老(lao)蘇州的(de)建筑藝術在明(ming)代(dai)已達(da)到(dao)一個相當完美和(he)諧(xie)的(de)境(jing)界,故有“結(jie)構(gou)(gou)雄杰冠江南”之譽。現為第七(qi)批(pi)全國重(zhong)點文(wen)物(wu)保護單位。