Just a short walk from the bustling beach, you’ll find a place that transports you back to the early Middle Ages - the Sopot Stronghold. This branch of the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk is the oldest historical site in the city, and it’s open to visitors under the open sky.
Traces of Sopot’s Ancient Inhabitants
The stronghold was built at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries AD as a wooden and earthen fortification on a moraine hill. For over two centuries, it served as a settlement and defensive structure until it was abandoned in the 11th century. In the past, it stood directly on the Baltic shore – today, the sea lies about 400 meters away.
Grodzisko w Sopocie, fot. Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku
Living History - Reconstructions and Demonstrations
At the site, you can see reconstructions of:
- a wooden palisade and entrance gate,
- thatched huts built on original foundations,
- a craftsman’s workshop and an exhibition of ancient weapons.
The earth ramparts, shaped like a horseshoe, surround a central courtyard (the majdan) covering 0.15 hectares, protected on the western side by a 6-meter-deep moat. Visitors can enter five wooden huts and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the early medieval settlement.
Grodzisko w Sopocie, fot. Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku
Exhibition and Education Pavilion
In 2011, a modern exhibition pavilion was opened on the site, displaying archaeological finds uncovered during excavations – including everyday objects and amber artifacts, evidence of local amber-working traditions.
Events and Activities
The stronghold regularly hosts:
- historical festivals,
- lectures and educational workshops,
- living history lessons for children, youth, and adults.
It’s a perfect place for families – where history comes alive through fun and experience.
Also visit other branches of the Archaeological Museum:
- Gniew Branch
- Romanesque Cellar
- “Blue Lamb” Granary, Gdańsk
- Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk
