Gdańsk

'Danzig in the Spring of 1944 had an atmosphere quite unlike that of any other German town I visited. It was not unlike Edinburgh, for both had been left untouched by the destruction of war... As I walked up the broad, cobbled streets, with their set-back painted facades and with trams squeezing under the low brick arches, I found it hard to believe that this was the match that set Europe alight.' The recollections of this British soldier on his escape from Marlag stand in stark contrast to the dramatic finale of the war. Danzig bore the brunt of the damage on the Baltic coast, and following the Soviet 'liberation' in 1945, the 470,000 German inhabitants of the region were forced to resettle in the new Germany.

At the decree of the Great Powers, the city that re-emerged from the rubble was Polish, and the controversial matter of the Danzig corridor - 'the match that set Europe alight' - was settled. Thus a city that had been founded by Polish King Mieszko I in 980 - but which had been firmly out of the Polish orbit since 1792 - was re-christened with its original name, Gdansk, and a vast rebuilding project was begun.

Situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Gdansk is now the capital city of Pomeranian Voivodship. Together with two other cities, Sopot and Gdynia, it forms a conurbation known as the Tricity with a total population of 750,000 (Gdansk itself has 456,000 inhabitants). While Gdynia serves mainly as a port and Sopot as a seaside resort, Gdansk is popular among visitors with its thousand-year history and impressive architecture.

Its Old Town attracts almost as many people as that of Krakow or Warsaw. In the past the city enjoyed a high degree of autonomy, which together with its participation in Hanseatic League, led to great prosperity. During its Golden Age, the turnover of Gdansk was bigger than that of London's East India Company. Later periods in Gdansk’s history were complicated and sometimes even dramatic.


Here is a short tour through most of the treasures in Gdańsk.

01 - Main Train Station 

  Gdansk main train station by Darek81

It was built between 1894-1900. The tower 50m tall was added in 1903 after 3 years construction. It was a hidden water tower, composed into the whole structure. Historically, railroads that used steam locomotives required a means of replenishing the locomotive's tenders. Water towers were common along the railroad. The tenders were usually replenished by water cranes, which were fed by a water tower.
Before the outbreak of World War II Gdańsk Główny station was named Danzig Hbf. At the end of the World War II Soviet forces burned the station building almost completely (as they did with the rest of the city), and it had to be rebuilt after the war (the water tower avoided destruction though).
The same design was used in the construction of Colmar's principle train station in Alsace, France. Thus the buildings are twins of one another.

02 - Town Hall of Old City

Gdansk Old Town Hall by Jerzy Czubak

This marvellous 16th-century Renaissance building was once home to the office of the astronomer and city councillor in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Johannes Hevelius, whose statue can be found in the park in front of the building. The former headquarters of the Council of Gdansk, the Old Town Hall served as the headquarters of the Soviet Army during the dying days of WWII, probably because it was practically the only building left standing in the city at the time. Today the building is open to the public and has become the focus of much creativity. Concerts are held upstairs, and the superb Baltic Sea Cultural Centre now has their offices there. There's also a cellar restaurant (Irish Pub), and a good bookshop on the ground floor.

03 - Jan Heweliusz Monument

Jan Heweliusz monument by izzy_pl

Johannes Hevelius (28 January 1611 – 28 January 1687) was a councilor and mayor of Danzig (Gdańsk), Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As an astronomer he gained a reputation as "the founder of lunar topography" and described ten new constellations, seven of which are still recognized by astronomers. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of his birth, 2011 was celebrated in Poland as the "Year of Jan Heveliusz”. Hevelius is regarded as having been the greatest astronomer in Poland after Copernicus.

04 - Radunia Canal

A channel built in XIV century (1348-1356) by Teutonic Knights to provide water and power to operate the Great Mill.

05 - The Great Mill

Gdansk The Great Water Mill by Shmija

Built by the Teutonic Knights in 1350, this magnificent edifice with its rising tiled roof is the grandest civil construction in Gdańsk. Built around mid-14th century on the Radunia canal, it was the largest Teutonic investment in Gdańsk. The structure combined three functions: that of a flour mill, a granary, and a bakery. It was equipped with 18 overshot water-wheels, each 5 m in diameter, which represented a great technical achievement for that time. Until 1356 when the Radunia Canal was built, the mill was powered by slaves turning 18 huge wheels. It was the largest industrial plant in Europe during the Middle Ages and functioned until the end of WWII. Though it has since been turned into a shopping centre, there's a small exhibition of old equipment from the mill. The surrounding grain and flour stores, dating to 1400, are home to a few small shops.

06 - Miller’s House

Gdansk Miller's House by popekpawel

Originally built in 1734 initially served as a sit for Miller’s Guild. Destroyed completely in 1945, was only rebuilt in 1997. Together with the Great Mill, they stand on the Radunia Channel.

07 - St Catherine’s Church

Gdansk St. Catherine's Church by Sydney2305

With its three aisles and its separated three-aisled presbytery, is probably the oldest sacred building in Gdansk, erected between 1227 and 1239. It was founded by the princes of Gdańsk Pomerania and considerably expanded in the 14th century.. Old Slavic tombs from the tenth century can be seen in a crypt in the presbytery. The massive tower of this church is topped with a “Polish type” dome and the interior of the church features 10 different types of vaulting. It is also a place where Hevelius was once church administrator and it’s his final resting place. You will find his tomb (dating back to 1659) at the rear behind the altar along with an epitaph funded by his grandson nearly 100 years after the great man's death. However, this church is more than just pleasing to the eyes, as there is a set of 49-bells which were reconstructed by both the German and Polish nations as part of the Unity and Friendship program they engaged in, to help heal relations between the one time enemies.

The tower of the church also hosts the Museum of Tower Clocks.

08 - Museum of Tower Clocks

This Branch of Gdansk History Museum is located in the tower of Saint Catherine’s Church in Gdansk. This is the oldest parish church in Gdansk, whose origins date back to the 12th century. The Museum collects and preserves tower clock mechanisms that are significant for this field of science. At the end of the 1960’s, the production of mechanical public clocks was discontinued in favour of electrical mechanisms controlled by quartz resonator and then directly by radio waves.

The disappearing clock mechanisms, even those from the first half of the 20th century, are important monuments of material culture. The accumulated collection spans the entire period of development of clock-making from the 15th to the 20th century. Now it contains absolutely unique cross-bar balance clocks that predate the invention of the pendulum; numerous cast iron mechanisms, mainly of Gdansk origin from the end of the 17th and the 18th centuries; splendid factory made clocks manufactured in the 19th century, the era of steam and electricity; and electro-mechanical clocks from the 20th century. The Museum staff are also responsible for looking after a number of historical clocks in situ all over Poland.

09 - Old Market Hall

Gdansk Market Hall by marekangiel

Built in 1896, there had been a Dominican monastery dating back to XII cent, destroyed during military offensive in 1813 (Prussian and Russian fire), was never allowed to be reconstructed. Therefore it still ran as a ruin for the next 26 years, until demolition in 1839-1940. The empty place was used for military drill purposes, then as a city market place from 1881.

10 - The Church of St. Nicholas

Gdansk St Nicholas Church's nave by racibo

It was built between 1348 and 1390 on the site of an even older temple from the late twelfth century. The windows of the church are very large for such a big building built so long ago and give the building a unique appearance. The primarily Baroque and Rococo interior is completely original as this church was the only church to make it through WWII unscathed. Framed with gold and highly decorative, most of the art inside the church depicts scenes from the life of Christ. There is also a magnificent chandelier crafted in 1617.

11 - Jan III Sobieski Monument

A monument commemorating King Jan III Sobieski, which may well be regarded as one of the most interesting monuments in Poland. It commemorates the triumphs of the Polish army, whose history symbolises the difficult and complicated history of the Polish Republic.

It is a large bronze statue built in 1897 in memory of the Polish king who reigned in the 17th century and famously defeated the Turks at the gates of Vienna, thereby saving Europe from the Ottoman hordes. Originally displayed in Lviv, the monument was moved to Warsaw in 1950 before finally being shifted to Gdansk in 1965. During martial law the monument became the starting point for several demonstrations and marches.

12 - The Coal Market and St. Dominic’s Fair

Gdansk Coal Market by Marianek

St. Dominic’s Fair, together with Weihnachtmarkt and Oktoberfest, is one of the biggest trade and cultural open-air events in Europe, organized in the Main City – the representative part of Gdańsk.
With 750 years of successful tradition, the history of the Fair goes back to the year 1260, when it was established by the decree of Pope Alexander IV. However, it was the Dominican Order (founded by Spanish preacher Dominic of Osma), that came up with the idea of the event and, for this reason, the Fair was named after them.
St. Dominic’s Fair became an important event for the city, attended by gentry and even by the king himself. The most memorable fair for the citizens was the one from the year 1310, when, during the absence of the king Władysław the Elbow-high, the Teutonic Knights plundered the city for the first time, killing many merchants and other participants of the Fair.
St. Dominic’s Fair had been organized annually for the centuries. However, the outbreak of the Second World War caused the Fair to disappear from the city for 33 years. In 1972, owing to the efforts of Wojciech Święcicki, a journalist from a popular Gdańsk evening paper “Wieczór Wybrzeża”, the tradition of the Fair was restored. In the 1970s the Fair was mostly viewed as a trade event, providing the opportunity to buy desired goods. During special fashion shows commonly called “Live Journal” the latest Polish fashion collections were presented.
Targ Węglowy (Coal Market) is one of the places where Dominikański Fair takes place.
On the left hand side of the picture above, where the tenement houses are, there would be also The Great Armoury's back side.

Gdansk Wielka Zbrojownia by Maciej Szester

The Royal Route

When the king of Poland travelled from Warsaw to Gdańsk, he would enter the city through the Brama Wyżynna (Upland Gate), continue through the Złota Brama (Golden Gate), and then head along ulica Długa (Long Street) and Długi Targ (Long Market) to the Zielona Brama (Green Gate). Although he didn't make this journey often, it was highly profitable for him to visit Gdańsk due to the enormous tax revenue the city commanded through its trade. In turn, Gdańsk's predominantly Germanic city dwellers would negotiate with the Polish king for greater rights, gaining substantially more privileges from him than they ever would from the Prussians in the 18th century.

Gdansk Dluga Street by Mirosław Rdzanek

The Royal Route rank among the most beautiful streets in Gdansk. The wealthiest Gdansk patricians used to live there and almost every tenement house has its own interesting history to tell. The oldest preserved houses date back to the Middle Ages, but most of the buildings were erected in modern times.

Gdansk Dluga Street by -Sjeng

Tenement houses on Dluga Street are typical Gdansk houses with narrow facades topped with gables or attics, richly decorated with coats of arms, allegoric figures and silhouettes of ancient heroes. Unfortunately when houses on Ulica Dluga were modernized in the mid-19th century, all the stepped terraces that originally fronted the entrances to the houses were removed. After the carnage of World War II, almost all buildings on Ulica Dluga were left in ruins. Many of the houses were later reconstructed, but only the finest buildings were rebuilt in architectural detail. The most important secular buildings - the Hall of the Main City and the Artus Court are located on Dlugi Targ Street.

13 - Upland Gate

Gdansk Upland Gate by deejeepee

The traditional entry point for kings was Upland Gate, at the western end of the Royal Way. It was built in 1574 as part of the new fortifications, which were constructed outside the city's medieval walls to strengthen the system. Authorities weren't happy with the original structure, so in 1586 they commissioned Flemish artist, Willem van den Block, to embellish it, covering it with sandstone slabs and ornamenting it with 3 coats of arms: Prussia (unicorns), Poland (angels) and Gdańsk (lions).
It was here where the Polish king was welcomed and given the keys to the city. The gate was originally surrounded by a 50m moat and was named for its 'upland' location above the water level. The metal pulleys used for raising and lowering the drawbridges are still visible beneath the coats of arms of Poland, Prussia and Gdańsk.

14 - The Torture House and Prison Tower

Gdansk House of Torture and Prison Tower by Jerzy Czubak

Originally built as part of the city’s fortifications in the second half of the 14th century, the complex was rebuilt by Antoni van Obberghen between 1593 and 1604 with the smaller of the two buildings becoming a torture chamber and courthouse while the larger tower became the prison. It was here that executions were carried out until the middle of the 19th century. Damaged during WWII, it has been extensively renovated and how houses the Amber and Torture Museums and you can view the old town from their viewing tower.

15 - The Golden Gate

Gdansk St George Brotherhood Court and The Golden Gate by Daniel Pavlík

This magnificent two-storey high arch of triumph was built in the early 17th century to mark the entrance to the grand Long Street. In the olden days the gate passages would see monarch and their corteges making their entrance to Gdańsk. The facade tops are finished with stone statues symbolisin the virtues the locals would hold in high esteem for ages: peace, freedom,wealth, fame concord, justice, piety, and reason. The houses flanking Long Street, today a popular pedestrian track, originally belonged to rich and influential Gdańsk families. The patriciate residences with their grand facades compete with one another with abundance of forms and originality of decor.
It was raised in 1612–14 in place of the 13th century gothic gate (Brama Długouliczna). It is located at one end of Long Lane (Długa street, German: Langgasse), where, together with Upland Gate and Prison Tower, it forms a part of the old city fortifications.
It was designed by architect Abraham van den Blocke and was constructed by Jan Strakowski. The architectural style of the gate is Dutch manierism. Next to it is the late-gothic building of the Brotherhood of St.George.
Both sides of the gate have attiques, with figures symbolising citizen's qualities. They were designed in 1648 by Jeremias Falck ("Polonus"), and reconstructed in 1878 due to the originals being damaged by time and climate.

16 - St George Brotherhood Court

Standing at the gate is the St. George Brotherhood building which was constructed between 1487-94. At the top of the tower there is a sculpture representing the patron of the Brotherhood fighting a dragon. This building was used as a meeting place, for sword fighting and archery practice, and for occasional celebrations. It was in use up to the dissolution of the Brotherhood in 1798.
The Court (also referred to as the Burgher Court) was built after 1489 in the Old City intramural area between the Guardhouse Tower and the Teutonic castle moat dam. Allegedly, the material used to build the court came from the remains of the Teutonic Castle. The first floor contained an archery range and storerooms for archery equipment. Members of the fraternity met on the Great Hall on the first floor. The hall was also used for ceremonies, for sword fighting and archery practice, meetings and banquets and for the performance of plays. It was in use up to the dissolution of the Brotherhood.

17 - Great Armoury

Gdansk The Great Armoury by Krystyna SIEG

The Great Armoury was built in 1600-09 on the medieval line of the city walls. A working arsenal until the 1800s, the armoury remains the finest example of Renaissance architecture in the city. It was designed by Opperghen and is the most impressive of his works in Gdańsk. The well-like structure in front was used as an elevator to transport gunpowder and cannon balls from their storage place in the basement. The armoury was badly damaged in WWII and rebuilt. It is now closed to the public.

The nearby imposing and ornate edifice of the arsenal represents the most exuisite example of the Dutch Mannerism in Gdańsk. Its richly adorned front and back walls facing the Coal Market and the Weaver Street rouse admiration for their composition and ornamentation. Its stately interiors would once brim with guns, cannon balls, and arms of all kinds. Today, the ground floor is developed into a shopping mall, and the upper storey accommodates the Academy of Fine Arts.

18 - Uphagen House

Gdansk Uphagen House by Łukasz H.

Uphagen house is the only one in Poland and one of only a few 18th century merchant town houses in Europe open to visitors. Johann Uphagen purchased this town house in 1775. Over a few years (by 1787) the town house was completely modernized and adapted to the needs of the new wealthy owner. Uphagen lived in the house until his death in 1802 when the house became the property of successive heirs of the family, staying throughout the 19th century in the hands of the same family (which was a rarity in those times).
The house at 12 Dluga Street hosts a museum now with a permanent exhibition showing Uphagen House in old photographs.

19 - The Main City Hall

The main town hall is a Gothic-Renaissance building, located at the corner of Dluga Street and Dlugi Targ, dominating the panorama of the Royal Route – the most representative route of the listed part of the city.

Gdansk The Main City Town Hall by Michał Galbas

The origins of the Town Hall, which from the very beginning was the seat of the authorities of the main Gdansk area, from the 14th century referred to as the Main City, go back to the early Middle Ages. From the mid 15th century it became the center of power for the entire area located on the Motlawa river. It served this function for a few centuries, and throughout this time was the main municipal building. The exact date of the creation of the building is unknown. According to 17th century Gdansk chronicler, Stephan Graua, the construction of the Town Hall was started in the spring of 1327 and completed in December 1336. The Gdansk chronicler did not however provide the source of this information. In the 14th century the Town Hall was probably a small one-storey building constructed as a frame structure from bricks and wood.  As The Gdańsk merchants were becoming increasingly rich on trade and strived to accentuate the city’s position by giving appropriate splendour to the interior of the Town Hall. At the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century, this interior was decorated by artists of the golden age of Gdańsk arts, including such masters as: Izaak van den Block, Hans Vredeman de Vries, Willem van der Meer, Anton Moeller and Szymon Herle. Overall administration of the works was managed by Dutchman, Anton van Obberghen, who at the time held the position of town builder.
The first floor became the most representative storey. It accommodated the most important rooms of the Town Hall – the Great Council Hall, also called the Red Hall (with its enormous painting-sculpture complex, the creators of the program presented – generally speaking – the moral norms and the rules of conduct for the city authorities), and the Great Wety Hall, from the 19th century called the White Hall. Beautiful rooms were also created inside the annex, to which two wings (northern and eastern) were added in the 16th century, which include the Small Council Hall (also called the Winter Hall) and the Small Wety Court Hall (the Fireplace Hall). The annex and the side wings formed a rectangular internal courtyard.
Reconstruction of the town hall, started in 1946, was a difficult project and is regarded as one of the outstanding Polish post-war conservation achievements.
The specific atmosphere of Gdańsk is also created by its bells. In 2000 a new outstanding 37-bell carillon was installed in the town hall tower The carillon was built by the Dutch bells and carillon manufacturer, Royal Eijsbouts in Asten. The Town Hall’s chiming bells are the background and at the same time a sort of rival to events held in the city.

20 - Neptune Fountain

Gdansk Neptun Statue by popekpawel

A symbol of Gdańsk, the Neptune Fountain has stood in front of the Artus Court since 1633. It was built on the initiative of the mayor of Gdańsk, Bartłomiej Schachmann.

The figure of Neptune refers to the bond between Gdańsk and the sea. The fountain was modeled by Peter Husen and Johann Rogge and cast in 1615 in Augsburg. The design of the whole fountain was created by Abraham van den Blocke. The exquisite grille surrounding the fountain dates back to 1634. In the years 1757—1761, Johann Karl Stender modified the basin and the pedestal of the fountain in the Rococo style by adding an extensive array of sea creatures. According to one of the Gdańsk legends, it was Neptune himself who contributed to the creation of the famous Gdańsk liqueur called Goldwasser. Indignant at people throwing golden coins into the fountain, he hit the water with his trident and the gold fell to bits, forming small golden flakes which now shine in the wonderful herbal liqueur.  

21 - The Artus Court

Gdansk The Artus Court by Mial

The Artus Court was in many respects the epicenter of Gdansk's mercantile galaxy. Named after the mythical British King Arthur, it provided an arena for the movers and shakers of Gdansk to strut their stuff in knightly style. The enterprise was inspired by the courts of King Arthur, and the merchants endeavoured to emulate the chivalrous, brotherly ideals that were espoused in the Arthurian legends.

Originally founded in 1350, the edifice got a sumptuous baroque make-over in the seventeenth century, although nearly all was lost in 1945. Thankfully, large sections of the interior had been spirited away, and these are amongst the highpoints of this splendidly reconstructed treasure. On the front wall of the Court there is a memorial board from 1965 commemorating the 20th anniversary of placing the Polish flag on the Artus Court by the soldiers of the 1st Armoured Brigade. Currently the interior of the Artus Court is open for visitors - there is also the department of the Gdansk History Museum.

The interior is one big Gothic hall. Since 1531 it has been completely redecorated - the walls have been covered with wainscot and friezes of mythological and historical character. The richly ornamented furniture and numerous paintings add to the splendour of the hall. The most famous ones are, among others, the works by anonymous artists from the late 15th century - Siege of Marienburg, The Ship of the Church, Orpheus among animals by Hans Vredeman de Vries from 1596 and Last Judgment by Anton Möller. The last painting caused much controversy, as the artist has used the scenery of the city and depicted some significant figures of the period as allegorical characters, such as Pride or Faithlessness. The hall was decorated not only with paintings but also tapestries, ship models, armours, coats of arms, or a cage with exotic birds. The other interesting decoration is the 11-metre high furnace made by Georg Stelzner between 1545-1546. It is covered with 520 tiles depicting the greatest European leaders, both the Protestants - supporters of the Schmalkaldic League, and the Catholics, among which are portraits of Isabella of Portugal and Charles V. The likenesses are interspersed with coats of arms, personifications of virtues, and planets.
The Artus Court was designed as an exclusive meeting venue for the local elite. Only in 1742, at the request of the town's mercantile companies, the Council agreed to change the Court into the exchange and the city lost its most famous inn.

22 - Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit house 

Ogarna 95 Street - (24 May 1686 – 16 September 1736) was a German citizen of Gdansk, physicist, engineer, and glass blower who is best known for inventing the alcohol thermometer (1709) and the mercury thermometer (1714), and for developing a temperature scale now named after him. Born in Danzig (Gdańsk), the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but lived most of his life in the Dutch Republic. The Fahrenheits were a German Hanse merchant family who had lived in several Hanseatic cities. Fahrenheit's great-grandfather had lived in Rostock, and research suggests that the Fahrenheit family originated in Hildesheim.

23 - Golden House

Gdansk Golden House by Rainer I

The nearby 1618 Golden House, designed by Johan Voigt, has the richest façade in the city. In the friezes between storeys are 12 elaborately carved scenes interspersed with busts of famous historical figures, including two Polish kings. The four statues waving to you from the balustrade at the top are Cleopatra, Oedipus, Achilles and Antigone. One of the other figures is possibly Shakespear.

It is one of the most beautiful buildings in Gdańsk. It was erected in 1609 by the Jan Speyman, the Mayor of the city and at the same time a wealthy merchant and an open-minded patron of the arts, and his wife, Judyta (from the Bahra family). The construction was based on a design prepared by Abraham van den Blocke, who was also responsible for a part of the sculptural decorations which were completed in 1618. The house is famous for its richly-decorated façade. The legend goes that from time to time the corridors of the house are frequented by a luminous creature. It is a ghost of the beautiful Judyta Speymann whispering “Act justly, fear no one”.

24 - Green Gate

Gdansk Green Gate by Sprato

Together with the Golden Gate and the Upland Gate it was used to span the Long Street and Long Market, called the Royal Route. The Green Gate is a building which is clearly inspired by the Antwerp City Hall. It was built between 1568-1571 to serve as the formal residence of the Polish monarchs and it stands on the site of the most ancient gate in Gdansk, the Koga Gate. It is a masterpiece by Regnier (or Reiner van Amsterdam), the architect from Amsterdam and reflects the influence of the Flemish architecture in the city. This gate was built to serve as the formal residence of Polish monarchs, but was only used for that purpose once in its history. There are four arched passages through this gate and there is a symbol over each: The eagle of the Prussian Kings, and the emblems of Poland, Gdansk, and Royal Prussia.
Today the Green Gate houses the National Museum in Gdańsk. Various exhibitions, meetings, conferences and shows are organized here. In one room, the office of former President Lech Wałęsa is located.

25 - Granary Island 

Once joined to the mainland, Granary (Spichlerze) Island was created when the New Motlawa Canal was dug in 1576. A centre of trade developed here at the end of the 13th century.

Gdansk former granaries by popekpawel

These granaries - no more than a skeletal set of ruined brick walls today - were the most important source of income for Gdańsk in the 16th century, contributing to its status as the largest Baltic harbour and one of Europe's richest cities. In the 14th century over 300 granaries operated on Wyspa Spichrzów; only one survived WWII, following which 20 were rebuilt. A moat was built around the area in case of fires. The granaries had names like Gloria and Bear Dance and serviced over 200 ships a day, supplying 300,000 tonnes of grain a year. Plans to restore the ruined granaries have repeatedly stalled, and they remain a moving reminder of the devastation of WWII and make for a nice walk.

26 - The Chlebnicka Gate

The Chlebnicka Gate built in 1450 marks the end of Chlebnicka street and opens up onto the Motlawa River. Built in the Gothic style, the gate is made of brick and has a pointed arch, but the true sign of its age is the symbol carved on the Motlawa side.

The symbol, a shield with two crosses but no crown, was the oldest crest of Gdansk and can’t be seen anywhere else in the city! On the opposite side, a stylized lily greets travellers and gives the gate its second name: the Lily Gate. In the nearby rivers and canals there are some rare varieties of lily, so after seeing the stone version, hop in a canoe and paddle on out to see some of the real things.

27 - House Under the Angels (or English House) 

The building is located on Chlebnicka 16 street and is one of the most magnificent tenement house in Gdańsk, built in the XVI century in the Renaissance style. It has the impressive 15,5 metres wide and 30 metres high facade in eight storeys, crowned with four tops and slender tower ornamented with a cupola and a spire. Currently it serves as a seat of the dormitory of the Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts.

28 - The Mariacka Gate

The charming and truly unique Mariacka Street is closed off on one end by the towering Mariacka Church and by the Mariacka Gate on the other. The gate allows pedestrians passage from the Motlawa to the cobbled roads of the Old Town and the famed porches of ul. Mariacka.

This defensive structure was built in 1485 and is built of dark, almost brown, brick. Two towers rise up from the top of this fort, and the windows are small and secretive. When one is walking along the Motlawa, enjoying the vendors or restaurants, he or she might hardly notice the exceptional and almost out-of-place look of this building, but to see it from Granary Island you’ll notice that its dark, Gothic style sticks out like a sore, impenetrable thumb.

29 - The Crane (Żuraw Gate)

The Gdansk Crane (Żuraw) over the Motlawa River is the most characteristic and unmistakeable symbol of Gdansk. Back in the Middle Ages it was the largest port crane in Europe handling cargo and putting up ship masts.

Gdansk The Crane (Gate) by Dariusz Checko

The Crane was built in the 14th century and renovated in 1442-1444, when it acquired its present appearance. The crane had a defence function. It consisted of two brick towers with a wooden lifting mechanism installed in between. The reloading equipment consisted of two pairs of wooden wheels which were put in motion by port workers. The crane was used to put up masts and reload goods. It was also a city gate. The Żuraw belonged to the city and was managed by a crane master.
The crane was destroyed by fire in 1945. As part of the rebuilding programme after World War II it was repaired and reconstructed, together with its internal mechanism. Today the majestic Crane, a fine specimen of the historic port facilities, sets an excellent background for the rich collection of the National Maritime Museum.

30 - Mariacka Street

It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful streets of Gdańsk. It leads from the St Mary's church to the Long Embankment with the Medieval St Mary's Gate. The street is an exquisite example of historic Gdansk urban planning with terraced entrances and narrow, richly decorated facades of houses which once belonged to affluent merchants and goldsmiths. The picturesque scenery of the place has always inspired writers and painters. It has also used as the scene of films.

Gdansk Mariacka Street by rafklos

Closed from the west with an over thirty meters high St. Mary's Church (the 82 m high spire of the church can also be seen from the street), from the east - with Mariacka Gate and the tower of the Archeological Museum (former Natural Sciences Society), Mariacka Street seems to be a separate world. That impression in increased by the fact that it is the only street where the entrance terraces were not destroyed. A narrow lane, resembling a ravine with entrance terraces and high, usually four-storey houses on its sides begins with the Gothic arch of the Mariacka Gate and ends with the main entrance to St. Mary's Church. On the entrance terraces, in the basements and ground floors of the houses, there are numerous restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops, mainly amber shops (Gdańsk is the world's capital of amber). In summer, especially during St. Dominican Fair, the street is visited by thousands of tourists, musicians play the works of old masters and artists sell their paintings and drawings. During the other seasons of the year, the street can be completely empty - the silence is interrupted only by the sound of the bells of St. Mary's Church and that of the carillon of the Old City Town Hall, or the sound the ships make when going along the Motława river, situated behind Mariacka gate.

31 - St. Mary’s Church

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the largest brick church in the world, went through several stages of development over the period from 1343 to 1502. Its interior displays many exquisite pieces of Medieval and Baroque art, including the stone Pieta from about 1410, a copy of the Last Judgement by Hans Memling, the original canvas dating back to 1472, the astronomical clock built by Hans Duringer between 1464 and 1470 and the main altar put up between 1510 and 1517.

Gdansk St. Mary's Basilica by Tomasz Sienicki

From 1529 to 1945 St Mary's was a Protestant church. Like so many other parts of Gdansk, it was rebuilt after World War II. The interior contains furnishings in the Gothic, Mannerist and Baroque styles. The church is 105 m long, including the tower battlements, and the vaults soar 29 meters above floor level. The solid main tower is 77.6 meters high and it is crowned with a viewing gallery which enables visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. In order to get there it is necessary to climb almost 400 steps.

32 - Royal Chapel 

Gdansk Royal Chapel by alex verdi

It was founded on the initiative of King Jan III Sobieski to serve as a temporary chapel for the Catholics of St Mary's parish church, which at that time was held by Protestants.

It is a masterpiece created by Barthel Ranisch. It was erected between 1678 and 1681, according to the designs of the royal architect, Tylman of Gameren. The baroque sculptures on the facade were created by Andreas Schlüter.

33 - Polish Post Office and the monument to the defenders of the Polish Post

In the Polish Post Office was one of the first acts of World War II in Europe, as part of the invasion of Poland. The Polish Post Office was the scene of some of the most dramatic events of the first days of World War II. At daybreak on 1 September 1939, German troops attacked the Polish Postal Administration that had its base here, in what was then free city of Gdansk.

For 15 hours the postal workers resisted the onslaught, but they were finally overwhelmed.  German soldiers were not able to take control of the building despite their great superiority in numbers and the support of howitzers and armoured vehicles. The defenders gave up only when threatened that the building would be soaked in petrol and burnt to the ground. All but four of the defenders who escaped from the building during the surrender were sentenced to death by a German court martial as illegal combatants on October 5, 1939 and executed. Their heroism is commemorated in the Post Office Museum and by a monument depicting an injured postal worker atop scattered mail, handing over his rifle to Nike, Greek goddess of victory.
 

Gdańsk Fortress - Culture Park of City Fortifications

The areas of the Grodzisko Fort are managed by a special municipal unit called:"Gdansk Fortress" Culture Park of City Fortifications. The Grodzisko Quarter is a small part of the centre of Gdansk, unique because of its history and an architectural shape which has remained almost unchanged for the last one hundred years or so.

The most important historic and urban complexes located here include the fortifications of the Grodzisko Fort together with the fortress park, a former Corpus Christi hospital with a very precious church and a compact complex of prison buildings located at the Kurkowa Street, where the Investigation Prison is now located. Particularly recommend are the following vantage points: Jerosolima Bastion with Millennium Monument and Napoleon vantage point with a table and a map of Gdansk siege in 1807, vantage point with a view to the Old Town, the building of Napoleon Redoubt, Cemetery of Non-Existing Cemeteries ; the Group of Corpus Christi, Post-fortress park, Natural path, Ecological grounds and the workshop of artistic farrier’s art and metal-work . Grodzisko fort is opened for the whole year for all those who are interested in finding out more about this great corner of the ancient fortifications located nearby the city centre.

Wisłoujście Fortress

Gdansk Wisloujscie Keep by Piotr Romer

A unique monument of the fortification works, Wisloujscie Fortress, is located in direct proximity to the Westerplatte peninsula. This was an important area from a strategic point of view, as the movement of ships entering and leaving Gdansk harbour could be controlled from this place.

The former Gdansk harbour was located on the Motlawa river, a few kilometres from the seashore, which made Wisloujscie a key place protecting Gdansk from the sea and protecting the city and harbour from a surprise enemy attack. Its strategic importance was appreciated long ago. It is quite possible that a guard post was already located there under the reign of the Pomeranian dukes. Over the following years, constant building, often by prominent fortification engineers of the time, steadily enlarged the fortress. It withstood several sieges and was often used to accommodate visiting royalty.

Westerplatte

Gdansk Westerplatte by Holger Weinandt

Westerplatte is famous for the Battle of Westerplatte, which was the first clash between Polish and German forces during the Invasion of Poland and thus the first battle of the European theater of World War II.

The Germans expected the capture of the Westerplatte to take a matter of hours, but the 182-man garrison under Major Henryk Sucharski resisted for seven days, their defence becoming a symbol of Polish resistance in the struggle against the Nazi invasion. The ruins of the defenders' barracks and guardhouses are still there. After the war, one of the guardhouses was converted into a museum. A Monument of the Coast Defenders was unveiled in 1966.

Monument to the Defenders of the Coast

An immense monument to the Defenders of the Coast commemorates the Polish soldiers who, in autumn of 1939, made a heroic effort to fight with the superior forces of Hitler's well-equipped army.

Close to the monument we can also see historic structures related to the heroic defence of this post in 1939, the tombs of heroic soldiers and the T-34 tank belonging to the Polish Armoured Brigade named after the Westerplatte Heroes.

Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers

Three majestic crosses with anchors – symbols of hope – have been erected to commemorate the bloody victims of the workers' strikes in December 1970. The demand relative to erecting this monument at the shipyard’s gates was one of the most important postulates of the shipyard workers who went on strike in August 1980. The crosses are 42 m high and weigh 140 tons. All official delegations visiting Gdańsk lay flowers at the foot of this monument.
There’s a European Solidarity Centre under construction, though it is possible to visit some part of the exhibition placed underground and some other shipyard buildings.