Gdansk Things to Do Tips by matcrazy1 Top 5 Page for this destination

Nobel Prize for Walesa

There is the original Peace Nobel Prize diploma of Lech Walesa in the Roads to Freedom exposition. The united efforts of thousands of underground "Solidarity" members were rewarded with the Nobel Prize for their leader Lech Walesa. Congratulations were pouring in from all over the world. There are letters of congratulations from Australia, Western Germany and Czechoslovakia.

Walesa was unable to receive the prize himself, fearing that the government would not let him back in Poland, so his wife Danuta received the prize in his place. Walesa donated the prize money to the Solidarity movement's temporary headquarters in exile (in Brussels). Communist authorities often offered Solidarity leaders and activists "one-way" passports to the West with a note: this document does not entitle its holder to come back to Poland. Over 1 mln Poles (of 38 mln) immigrated to the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe in 1980'. Over 300,000 of them came back to Poland (mainly from Western Germany) after 1990.

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Address: Ul. Doki 1, Gdansk

Directions: On the grounds of former Gdansk shipyard. About 15 min. on foot from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny): go northwards to Solidarity Square, pass through the shipyard gate right to the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers.

Phone: +48 (58) 769 29 20

The Fish Market since 1343

The space at the front of the Swan Tower (Baszta Labedzia) has been called the Fish Market (Targ Rybny) for centuries. The Tutonic Knights allowed Gdansk citizens to sell fish on a free market set up at this place in 1343. Since that time, boats full of fresh fish - codfish, herrings, flounders - had come from Gdynia, Puck, Hel and other nearby fishing villages and towns. A lot of inns and taverns had been put up around for incoming sellers and their consumers. It had to be a very lively place.

This over 600 years old tradition had to suddenly stop with the arrival of the Soviet troops and rules which considered any free commerce as a serious crime against the new order. The fishermen were either killed or were forced to cooperate with the new communist rulers and to join new, state-owned, fishing companies.

Now, after the communism collapse in Poland in 1989, a few open-air fish restaurants and grills were put up at the place of the former fish market. Well, you can buy here a lot of fish (meat, too) but only grilled ones. The Fish Market is the place for outdoor eating and drinking usually from May till September. Details in my restaurant tips.

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Address: Targ Rybny, Gdansk

Directions: Walk eastwards Dluga street, pass through the Green Gate at the end and turn left to Dlugie Pobrzeze along the Motlawa river. The Fish Market on the left, some 0.5 km ahead. About 40 min. on foot from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny).

The font and the epitath of Blemke

There are two another objects in the St. Mary's basilica, I liked a lot:

1. The baptismal font (number 11 on the map here) - octagonal basis of the font (1554) is made of Gotland limestone. The reliefs depict 8 biblical scenes. The bronze elements were ordered in Utrecht, the Netherlands in 1554 and came to Gdansk on a ship in 1557.

2. The epitath to Edward Blemke (number 69 on the map here) - it's one of the largest and probably the most beautiful epitath in the basilica. It was created by Abraham van den Blocke in 1591. The middle relief depicts the Resurrection. There are allegoric statues of Wisdom and Prudence on its both sides. Just in case you know Latin language, most Latin writings on the epitath are difficult to understand.

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Address: Ul. Podkramarska 5, 80-834 Gdansk

Directions: In the old town. Walk eastwards Dluga street, turn left to either Tkacka or Lektykarska st. and turn first right to Piwna, the basilica on the left. About 25 min. on foot from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny).

Other Contact: http://www.bazylikamariacka.pl/0

Phone: +48 (58) 301 39 82

The main altar and practicalities

If you are a fan of medieval art you will be amazed. The monumental main altar of St. Mary's basilica was created in a workshop of the master Michael of Augsburg (Germany) in 1510 - 1517. It cost as much as 552-year's income of a priest that time. The altar is in late gothic style but it includes elements typical for the next period, the renaissance. it's said that graphics of Albrecht Dürer from Nuremberg influenced creators of the altar.

Pay attention to huge (4-story high) stain glass behind the main altar.

PRACTICALITIES
There is no entrance fee to the basilica.

You are allowed to enter basilica during holy mass but for obvious reason it's not my recommendation. If possible visit the basilica in the following hours:
- on Sunday and holidays: 1.00 pm - 6.00 pm in October to April or 1.00 pm - 7.00 pm in May - September;
- Mon - Fri: 8.30 am - 6.00 pm in October to April or 8.30 pm - 7.00 pm in May - September.

You may hear the famous pipe organs during holy masses or, better, during organ concerts on each Friday at 8.15 pm.

I didn't find any ban on photography inside the basilica. The interior is well lighted by numerous, huge windows. Thus generally there is no need to use a flash.

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Address: Ul. Podkramarska 5, 80-834 Gdansk

Directions: In the old town. Walk eastwards Dluga street, turn left to either Tkacka or Lektykarska st. and turn first right to Piwna, the church on the left. About 25 min. on foot from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny).

Other Contact: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.

Phone: +48 (58) 301 39 82

Uphagen's House

Walking along main pedestrian street - Dluga, I entered the Uphagen's House at No 12 to see interesting clocks of Gdansk exhibition and a part of Gdansk Museum of History. There is a rich collection of old, original furnitures, textiles and garments in amazing Dutch style interiors.

This impressive, rococco-style house was built in 1776 for a merchant and book collector Johan Uphagen. It was completely destroyed at the end of WWII, then reconstructed and finally renovated recently for money both from Germany and Poland. Hours and admission: in my last picture.

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Address: Ul. Dluga 12; 80-850 Gdansk

Directions: Along main pedestrian street of Gdansk - Dluga, on the right walking from the Golden Gate. About 20 - 25 min. on foot from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny).

Other Contact: http://www.trojmiasto.pl/ob.phtm

Phone: +48 (58) 301 23 71

Gdansk from the top

To enter the viewing platform on the tower of the St. Catherine's Church I had to visit the Tower Clocks Museum (8 zl = € 2 per person) first (small but marked entrance from Podmlynska Street). The views are amazing in sunny day, although the Main Town with huge edifice of Gdansk cathedral is located south, thus it's dificult to take good pictures close midday.

I saw a few architectural masterpieces down and first of all I amazed different landscapes around: green space with some industrial areas and the Baltic Sea on the horizon to the Northeast, ugly architecture (built after WWII) of residential suburbs with very high traveling cranes of Gdansk Shipyard to the North, lovely old houses and churches of the Main Town to the South.

OPENING HOURS:
Hmm... they are different depends on season. In 2005:
25 June - 14 July + 1 - 14 September:
Monday 1.00 pm - 6.00 pm
Tue - Sat 10.00 am - 6.00 pm
Sun 11.00 - 6.00 pm

25 June - 31 August
Mon 1.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Tue - Sat 10.00 am - 8.00 pm
Sun 11.00 - 8.00 pm

15 September - 16 October
Mon - Sat 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Sun 11.00 am - 4.00 pm

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Address: Ul. Podmlynska, 80-850 Gdansk

Directions: Entrance from Podmlynska street, right to the church entrance. In southern part of the Old Town, close to the Main Town and the Great Mill - 15 min. walk from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny).

Phone: +48 (58) 305 64 92

Museum of Tower Clocks

The museum is located on a few floors, inside square tower of the St. Catherine's Church. The entrance ticket (8 zl = €2 or ) entitles you to continue walk upstairs to the viewing platform. There are a few amazing books on Gdansk and its tower clocks available at place. Warning: the tower is 76 m high (like 25 floor/store building), there is no lift/elevator, thus it's a hard way up especially for city animals and not a good choice for those complaining fear of height.

The baroque church tower houses a 37-bell carillon. The bells chims on the hour every hour. The modern exposition includes well preserved old (17th century) tower clocks made in Gdansk. They were transferred to the museum from various churches around. I saw constant swing of a very long pendulum which measured time on pretty lighted upper levels.

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Address: Ul. Podmlynska, 80-850 Gdañsk

Directions: Entrance from Podmlynska street, right to the church entrance. In southern part of the Old Town, close to the Main Town and the Great Mill - 15 min. walk from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny).

Phone: +48 (58) 305 64 92

Rebuilt but not open yet!

The renovation of this pretty, impressive and old edifice, the Market Hall, was finally completed in June 2005. Commercial companies spent a lot of money and already started to advertise the place as a great shopping place with archeological exposition in cellars. Unfortunatelly the building still stays close (in August 2005). Why?

Hmm... the fire department of Gdansk checked it 6 times and... didn't allow to open the edifice. Recently they ordered to install anti-smoke installations inside but the Gdansk Conservator didn't accept to do that in this old building. What's the most important: safety, historical heritage or local business? Anyway, I do hope they will open the Market Hall soon.

Address: Panska Street; 80-850 Gdansk

Directions: At northern part of the Main Town (15 min. walk from the Main Railway Station - Gdansk Glowny), walk Podmlynska Street southwards, continue Panska street, the Market Hall on your left, opposite to Jacek Tower.

Targ Drzewny (Timber Market, Holzmarkt)

This is historical name of very busy part of old, German Danzig, I saw on old postcards. Now, it looks different. Well, some rebuilt after WWII houses look interesting. There is a lot of green space with monument of Polish king Jan III Sobieski and small park which was given the name of Dariusz Kobzdej in 1999.

There is information sign on Kobzdej (1954 - 1999) but exclusively in Polish, so let me explain. He was Gdansk citizen, a medicine doctor and one of creators of democratic oposition in 1976 - 1989, prized by president of Poland Lech Walesa after premature death. He was persecuted for his convictions by communist authorities, imprisoned in 1980 for giving patriotic speech at anniversary of the Polish Constitution of May 3.

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Address: Targ Drzewny, Gdansk

Directions: 10-15 min. walk from the Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glówny) - walk southwards and turn left to Podwale Staromiejskie street.

The finest Renaissance architecture

Richly decorated facade of the Great Armoury at Targ Weglowy (Coal Market) is the finest example of Renaissance architecture in Gdansk. The edifice looks like 4 seperate houses built of small, red, Dutch bricks decorated with sandstone statues of two musketeers, a warrant officer, a court official and a captain. The portals and tops of the opposite facade at Piwna street look even better.

At the end of the 16th century, Gdansk, the richest city of powerful Kingdom of Lithuania and Poland, was at risk of Swedish invasion. Thus the Great Armoury was built in 1602 - 1605. It's interesting that the function of the edifice was not only military (to store weapons) but educational (to display some of them for visitors) as well. The armoury which served as a kind of military museum was badly damaged in 1945 and rebuilt. Unfortunatelly there is no museum inside but stores/shops on the ground floor and the Academy of Fine Arts upstairs.

The armoury was designed by famous architecturer Antoni van Obberghen (van Opberghen). He was Dutch and moved to Gdansk where he could easier put his designs into life. Many top European artists, scientists etc. moved to Gdansk that time. Hmm... today the immigration is rather from Gdansk to the Netherlands but soon... who knows... you are welcome :-).

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Address: Targ Weglowy; ul. Piwna , Gdansk

Directions: 20 min. walk from the Main Railway Station: walk southwards to the Upland Gate and turn east to Targ Weglowy - the armoury ahead to the left.