Gdańsk and its attractions

Although it is over a thousand years old, it impresses with its modernity. Proud of its extremely rich history, open to the world and the future. With a view of the Baltic Sea, the port, the Motlawa River, the forests of the Tri-City Landscape Park. With the Westerplatte peninsula, which remembers September 1, 1939, the area of the former Gdansk Shipyard and the historic gate no 2 with  Gradowa Hill and Wistulamouth Fortress, which evoke Napoleonic times.

Gdansk – a city where history intertwines with modernity

Gdansk is a city whose identity has been shaped over more than 1000 years of history, under the influence of different cultures of visitors and nations living here. Over the centuries of existence, the city developed very intensively, and in the 16th century it was the richest city in the Republic of Poland.

Gdansk is considered a symbolic place of the outbreak of World War II and the beginning of the fall of communism in Central Europe. This undoubted capital of Pomerania abounds in numerous architectural monuments, and the currently emerging modern buildings fit perfectly into the surroundings of places steeped in historical events.

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The visited attractions in Gdansk lead to reflection and reverie and delight with their architectural beauty, but also allow you to relax on sandy beaches (e.g. the most popular one – the beach in Jelitkowo) and in numerous restaurants and pubs here. We will also find places where music and party atmosphere reign, as well as areas for cultural and sports events organized here.

Gdansk – what to see in the city?

One of the most representative places for the city is Dluga Street with a number of tenement houses once inhabited by rich and influential townspeople and the Gothic-Renaissance building of the Town Hall. From the approximately 50 m tower, open to the public in the summer season, there is a wonderful panorama of the city.

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The Long Embankment  is a waterfront promenade and an ideal place for walks to watch passing ships and another of the key areas and attractions of Gdansk. Through the St. Mary’s Gate standing here, we enter the most delightful street from the embankment,  Mariacka Street. Due to the numerous shops with amber jewellery, it is called Amber Street by the locals. The completely reconstructed buildings of tenement houses with characteristic porches reflect the atmosphere of the old city. The amber street leads to St. Mary’s Basilica, which is a great example of Gothic art.

Since the vicinity of Gdansk appears in written historical sources, amber also appears in them.

Situated on the Gulf of Gdansk, with access to numerous beaches that are teeming with life in spring and summer, surrounded by picturesque forests of the Tri-City Landscape Park, in the close vicinity of Kashuby, Gdansk is one of the most interesting cities on the map of Poland. It delights not only with its landscape, but also with its history. It is here that the kings of Poland greeted the nation in processions from the Golden Gate to the Green Gate. It is here, at the Long Market, that the extremely majestic Artur’s Court and the Neptune fountain – symbols of Gdansk – are located.

There are more of these symbols. They also include the Crane located along the Long Embankment, the largest and oldest of the preserved port cranes of medieval Europe, a structure that has ensured the dynamic development of the port of Gdansk since the 15th century.

The outstanding astronomer Jan Hewelius, the outstanding inventor Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit and the philosopher Artur Schopenhauer came from Gdańsk. It was here that Polish soldiers from Westerplatte heroically defended the country when Schleswig-Holstein, a battleship of the Third Reich, in September 1939 shelled the Polish military depot, thus starting World War II. It was here, in the Gdańsk Shipyard, that in 1980 workers ordered a strike that started a slow but effective wave of change in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.

The most interesting attractions in Gdansk.

Today, Gdansk is described as a city of freedom and solidarity. The history of the NSZZ “Solidarity” movement, which was founded here, is told by the European Solidarity Centre, which is unique on an international scale. Extremely original in terms of architecture, the building (built on the model of a ship) houses an exhibition presenting the history of the Solidarity movement and is a place where many cultural events take place. It is also here that Lech Walesa, the first chairman of NSZZ “Solidarnosc”, former president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has his office.

From the European Solidarity Centre, which is located in the area of ​​the former Gdansk Shipyard, not far from the Museum of the Second World War. This is the newest and most modern museum in the city, built with incredible flair. He talks about the biggest armed conflict on a grand scale, in a broad international context.

The seaside city and port could not miss the National Maritime Museum, which is divided into branches located in various parts of the city, which include: the Maritime Culture Centre, Granaries on the Lead Island and the Ship-Museum “Soldek”, which is the first one built by the Polish shipbuilding industry seagoing ship.

ALSO LEARN ABOUT GDYNIA’S ATTRACTIONs.

The attractions of Gdansk are not only historical objects.

Gdansk is a treat not only for history lovers, but also for those who are interested in astronomy and exact sciences. The Hewelianum Centre operates in the former post-Napoleonic forts. On the other hand, in the Wrzeszcz district, in a magnificent, over 100-year-old building, the Gdansk University of Technology, one of the best technical universities in the country, has its seat.

Speaking of Gdansk, we cannot forget about the numerous parks – the beautiful and intimate Orunia Park and the captivating, extremely popular Oliwa Park, which is just a few steps from the 14th-century Oliwa Cathedral.

The Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre hosts not only actors on its stage. It is also a regular venue for concerts by artists from around the world.