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Gdansk, Poland's major sea port and an important tourist destination is situated on the Baltic Sea. Its once thriving ship building industry has declined. Buidings in the historic old town remind me of Amsterdam. Extensively damaged in World War II it was rebuilt in the 1950s and 60s. The previous German character was deliberately diluted in favour of French and Dutch influences. |
During my visit I spent most of my time in the Historical Old Town only venturing out to visit the Church of St Nicholas and Gdynia Beach.
Bounded on one end by the Green Gate which leads to the river and the Golden Gate, Dlugi Targ, once the main city market, is now the most popular part of the historical old town.
Neptune's Fountain was constructed in 1617 to a design by Abraham van den Blocke. The statue was cast in Augsburg and the surrounding fence was added in 1634.
The Town Hall was originally built in 1327-1336. After a fire in 1556 it was rebuilt and expanded. In 1561 a gilded statue of King Sigismund II Augustus was placed on the top of the tower and bells were put into the tower.
Returning in the direction of the Green Gate, if you turn left at the first street before or after the Town Hall you will come to St Mary's Church.
St Mary's is one of two churches I visited in Gdansk. Located in the old town, it is one of the largest brick churches in the world. Used for both Catholic and Lutheran services from 1536 to 1572, it was a Lutheran church from the 16th century until 1945. Maybe that is the reason the interior decor is fairly sparse. Currently it is a Catholic church.
For centuries most clocks were installed in the tower of large buildings such as churches, town halls and forts.
Some of the mechanisms which drove these clocks are housed in the Tower Clock Museum. Dating from the 14th century they are housed in the tower of St Catherine's Church.
If you wish to see it you will have to climb 66 steps to reach the ticket office, Climbing the total of 258 steps will take you to the top of the tower for fine views over Gdansk including St Mary's Church.
Amethyst is fossilized tree sap. It is a very important industry in Gdansk, employing 30,000 people. Many small shops selling amethyst products are located in Mariacka Lane.
The old town has many street musicians playing and seeking donations. They are often found in the archways near the water front.
These two musicians were certainly worth the donation.
Built between 1442 and 1444 the Gansk Crane was used for moving cargo and raising ship masts. Using only human muscle for power it could lift 4 tonnes to a height of 11 meters.
Remaining in use until the mid 19th century it was eighty percent destroyed in the WWII Battle of Gdansk and rebuilt after the war.
The Church of St Nicholas is about three kilometers outside of the old town. It can be reached by taking the tram and getting off at Opera Baltycka 01.
A Gothic church, it is the oldest in Gdansk. Initially erected by the Dominicans in 1227, the current church dates from the 14th century. A Renaissance altar was installed in 1647. The interior is of Baroque and Rocco design with many black and gold decorations and paintings with scenes from Jesus' life.
At the back, opposite to the altar, is the beautiful Baroque organ.
St Nicholas was chosen as patron Saint for the church partly because he was the patron Saint for sailors and partly because he is also a Saint that is acknowledge by the Orthodox Church. The church was not damaged during World War II. An Orthodox church I have visted with the same patron Saint was the Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas in Sulina, Romania.
The Museum of the Second World War was opened for the public on March 23, 2017. Having a second war world museum seems appropriate as WWII started here with Hitler’s invasion of the nearby Westerplatte Peninsula.
The museum building consists of three sections, the underground, a plaza and a 40.5 meter tower angled at 45 degrees. The sections are symbols for the past, present and future.
A museum of war it puts greater emphasis on the impact of the war on people and the city scape rather than military battles.
One exhibit is a recreation/photo of a pure-war shopping street, another ruined building surrounding a Soviet tank.
Before leaving Gdansk and travelling inland, I felt I had to at least have a look at the Baltic Sea. So I took the local tram to Gdynia Beach. It is a nice sandy beach. Not many people were present on what was a dull, overcast and slightly chilly day. However when the weather is right I suspect it would be extremely popular.
When I first came to Gdansk I did not know what to expect. All I knew about it was that it is near the mouth of the Vistula River and in the past it was called Danzig Free City.
By the time I left it was my favourite city in Poland.