According to A2ZGOV, Gdansk is a major seaport in Poland. It is located on the shore of the Gulf of Gdansk on the southern coast of the Baltic. The first mention of the city dates back to the end of the 10th century. In the period from 1361 to 1669, Gdansk was part of the Hanseatic League and played the role of the sea gate of the Hanseatic League, now Gdansk is also a member of the trade union of cities – the New Hanseatic League.
The main attractions of Gdansk are located in the Old City. The Church of the Holy Virgin Mary is the second largest cathedral (after Cologne Cathedral) in Europe, and it is also the largest brick church in Europe. It was built in the 13th-16th centuries in the Gothic style. The inside of the temple houses many works of medieval and baroque art, including a stone figure of Mary from around 1410, a copy of the Last Judgment by Hans Memling from 1472, an astronomical clock and a main altar.
Be sure to take a walk along the Royal Route of Gdansk. It starts at the city gate complex, which includes the Green Gate, the Evil Gate and the Golden Gate, then the tract goes along Long Street and ends at Long Market Square. The Golden Gates were built in 1612-1614 in the Renaissance style. They are decorated with stone sculptures and attics. The Green Gate was built in the middle of the 16th century in the Mannerist style. They were intended for the residence of monarchs visiting the city. Along the Long Street there are old buildings that appeared here already in the Middle Ages, they are distinguished by narrow facades, gabled roofs or attics.
The Town Hall stands on the Long Market Square, it was built in the period from 1379 to 1492. It is an 80 m high tower, the dome of which is crowned with a gilded metal statue of King Sigmund August. Of greatest interest inside the Town Hall is the Red Hall, it is considered one of the richest town hall interiors of our time, here you can see the works of such masters as Hans Vredeman de Vries, Isaac van der Blocke and Simon Gerle. In the vicinity of the square is the Court of Artus. Its Mannerist portal is decorated with medallions with portraits of kings. In the interior of the Court, a large 12 m high tiled stove, painted by master Jost with images of famous European rulers of the past and coats of arms, deserves special attention. Opposite the Court of Artus stands the fountain of Neptune, it is a symbol of Gdansk. The god of the sea, Neptune, holds a trident in his hand, and around him are various monsters from the depths of the seas and oceans. The figure of Neptune symbolizes the connection of Gdansk with the sea.
Another attraction of Gdansk is in the city port. Here stands the Lighthouse, whose height is 27 meters. It has been operating since 1894. Inside it you can see the exhibition “Naval lighthouses of Gdansk through the centuries”, as well as look at the Port and the Gulf of Gdansk from above. One of the most original architectural monuments of Gdansk is also located here. – Port Crane, which is called the Crane. This crane was used not only for unloading, but also for defense. On the roof of the Crane is placed a copper crane – a symbol of vigilance. Today, the building of the Crane towers over the embankments of the city.
There are many parks in the city – the zoo, the Oliva Park with ancient plantings, the Cultural Park of the City Fortifications “Fortress Gdansk” with unique monuments of military architecture, as well as the Sobieszewski Island Nature Reserve. Gdansk Zoo today is the largest zoological garden in Poland, it occupies about 100 hectares of forest park territory. Sobieszewski Island is located between the Gdansk Bay and the Vistula River. There is a bird nature reserve on the island. Migratory or sedentary birds, flocks of gulls, terns, ducks and swans settle here.
Long ago Gdansk is considered one of the world capitals of amber, it is an important center for its extraction and processing. Baltic amber contains a large admixture of succinic acid, which determines its healing properties. The local craftsmen created their own amber processing school. Gdansk is a recognized scientific center in this area – the residence of the National Economic Chamber of Amber and the International Association of Amber Masters is located here, the only Amber Department in the world operates at the University of Gdansk, the largest amber exhibitions in the world are held in the city. At the Historical Museum of Gdansk The Amber Museum department was opened, the Archaeological Museum presents a permanent exhibition “With amber through the millennia”, where you can get acquainted with the origin of amber and its varieties, as well as look at ancient amber souvenirs and objects. Every year in Gdansk, during the St. Dominic Fair (the first three weeks of August), the Amber Festival is held, and in the spring the famous Amber Sales are held.
Gdansk is located on the Baltic coast. Beaches stretch for 23 km along the city, three bathing areas and a 130-meter pier in the Brzezno region are organized. The most popular holiday destinations are Stogi and Brzezno. There are several water slopes on the beaches: two in Stogi, one in Jelitkovo and one in Brzezno, there are also inflatable slopes designed for the smallest vacationers.
