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Gdansk

Culture of Gdansk. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Green Gate, Gdansk Tourists should start observation of the city from visiting the local attractions. As a rule, visitors are recommended to make a walk through the streets of Dlugi Targ and Dluga. Simply each building located on these streets is a true masterpiece of architectural art. The majority of luxurious mansions were built during the Middle Ages. At that time the street was home of the wealthiest citizens of the city.
A real historical symbol of Gdansk is the Hotel Gdańsk, which occupies the building of a former granary, which was built in the 18th century. During the reconstruction, the architects were … Open
The old Town Hall - Ratusz Glownego Miasta – is a striking architectural landmark. The construction of the tower was started in 1379 and ended only in 1492. The Town Hall is decorated with a large golden dome, the building of which involved most famous masters of that time. The height of the tower is 80 meters, so it can be seen from various parts of the city. The building of the Town Hall is open for excursions, so everyone can appreciate its luxurious interior design.
Dwor Artusa building, the construction of which was finished in the beginning of the 14th century, is a no less interesting object of excursions. Shortly after the completion of the building a huge fire damaged it severely. It took almost a hundred years to bring the building back to its original form. Tourists are usually offered to participate in guided tours through the beautiful palace. Here visitors can see a priceless collection of antique furniture, numerous paintings and coats of arms. In front of the palace is located the famous Fountain of Neptune, which has become the symbol of Gdansk. It was built by the order of the city’s mayor in 1633. The author of the original sculpture is an outstanding master of that time - Abraham van der Blocke. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
It is not difficult to find the right hotel in Gdansk for a romantic getaway. Hotel Hanza offers her customers luxurious double rooms that are equipped with a Jacuzzi. Guests will have the … Open
Another unforgettable and beautiful symbol of Gdansk is the harbor crane - Żuraw over Motława river. It was used for the handling and installation of masts for large ships in the middle of the 15th century. At that time the crane was a huge wheel, on which rested the whole lifting mechanism. The wheel was moved by the power of human feet - hundreds of workers had to move pedals in order to ship heavy containers.
Estatua de Neptuno The Golden Gate (Zlota Brama) is a true example of beautiful Renaissance style. The amazing monument of the early 17th century depicts the principal human virtues - Justice, Piety, Mind and Consent. Near the gate you will find is some beautiful architectural buildings of 15-16 centuries. Gdansk is famous for its museums. For tourists the most interesting museums are Historical Museum, National Museum, Central Naval Museum, Archaeological Museum and Historical Water Forge.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Gdansk and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Gdansk and surroundings

Plan your own excursion through Gdansk: churches, museums and castles

St. Mary Church, Gdansk

» St. Mary’s Church, also known as the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, had been built for 160 years (1343-1502). The church building is huge. The inside area is 190,000 square metres. It can fit 25,000 people. The temple is the second-largest by area, the first being the cathedral in Cologne.
»  Although the strict, dark-brick building has rather a gloomy appearance, it’s bright and spacious inside. Tall, slender columns go up to the vaulted ceiling.
»  During wartime, the main relics of the basilica were hidden in different parts of the city. During the restoration of the damaged building, they were brought back to their places.
»  The main valuables found in the basilica are an elegant altar (1510-1517) made by German architect Michael Schwartz, a statue of the Virgin Mary (1410), triptych The Last Judgment (1472) painted by medieval artist Hans Memling. Today, the temple possesses a good copy of the painting, while the original is kept in the National Museum in Gdańsk.
»  St. Mary’s Church is also famous for another unique rarity. It is a clock mechanism (1464-1470) displaying dates and lunar phases on the dial. Besides, at noon, it’s demonstrating the figures of the twelve apostles, three kings, Adam and Eve, and the symbol of death – as a reminder of the transience of life.
»  Visitors and tourists can climb 400 steps to the top of the bell tower to relish the view of the city.

Oliwa Cathedral, Gdansk

» The Oliwa Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Trinity, Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Bernard was part of the monastery founded by Cistercian monks in 1186. It was often robbed and set on fire by the Prussians.
»  In 1350, a new stone cathedral was built. It was considered the major one in Pomerania. Local noble people were buried here.
»  Its size makes it the longest cathedral in the world. The facade of the church is made up of two high thin towers, between which there is a strict 1688 portal.
»  Inside, the church is decorated with 23 marble altars. The main one was made in 1605. 83 years later, it was replaced by another one.
»  The church has another valuable – an old organ (1763-1788) made by monk Johann Wulff. It consists of 7,896 pipes and 110 registers.
»  It has a distinctive feature: when it plays, the cherubic figures adorning the organ begin to move. The organ can play the murmur of water, human voices, and animal sounds. Since 1957, the Oliwa Cathedral has hosted the International Organ Music Festival, which the best organists take part in.
»  The cathedral has a museum exhibiting religious objects of the 14th-16th centuries.

St. Catherine Church, Gdansk

» St. Catherine’s Church was built during the reign of King Casimir the Great. In 1363, the building was expanded.
»  It was partly designed by artists Anton Möller, who painted several pictures (1585-1587) for the main altar, and Isaak van den Blocke, who presented the cathedral with a series of paintings (1611-1614). They had been preserved until 1945, when the altar burnt down during battles.
»  Johannes Hevelius, the famous Polish astronomer, was buried in the church in 1687. He designed telescopes and was the first to create a map of the moon.
»  In 2006, the church was caught on fire, which damaged the inside of the church badly. Besides, the roof and bell tower collapsed. The church is still being restored today.
»  Nowadays, there’s a branch of the city’s Historical Museum inside the church.

National Museum, Gdansk

» The National Museum is located in the old Franciscan monastery (1422-1522). The museum’s collection consists of art objects granted by noble families from Gdansk and Pomerania.
»  For example, there’s Jacob Kabrun’s (1759-1814) collection bequeathed to the city. It had thousands of paintings, prints, and drawings by European artists of the 15th to 19th centuries.
»  There is also a collection of paintings by Gdansk artist Anton Möller (1563-1611).
»  The Last Judgment, a triptych by Hans Memling (approx. 1472), which originally adorned the altar in St. Mary’s Church, returned to the Gdansk Museum only in the 1950s. First, the French stole the triptych and sent it to the Louvre; during the German occupation, it ended up in Germany; then it was taken away to the Soviet Union, where it was kept in the Hermitage until it was brought back to its homeland.
»  The museum has seven sections – from ancient to modern art – displaying paintings, ceramics, and sculptures.

Amber Museum, Gdansk

» The Amber Museum was opened not so long ago, in 2006. It is located in an old fortress. It served as medieval jail once.
»  The first exhibition stands the visitors see displays pieces of rough amber found at different times. It is a natural material of different colors. Some exhibits include pieces of insects and plants.
»  Then, the visitors enter the hall that houses old amber items made by masters of that time (crockery, caskets, and accessories).
»  As for contemporary exhibits, you can see fashionable jewels, stylish accessories, and other unique items.
»  The last exclusive exhibit is the inclusion of a lizard in the amber gum. It was found by a local resident in 1997 at the beach. It is named “Gierłowska Lizard” after Gabriela Gierlowska, an amber master. It is a rare specimen, the first in Poland and the second in the world.
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What to visit during two-day excursion in Gdansk

Great Crane (Zuraw)
Where: Ulica Szeroka 67, Gdansk; Telephone: +48 58 301 6938; More info: Tram;
Long Street and Long Market
Where: Ulica Dluga, Gdansk; More info: Tram;
St Mary’s Church
Where: Ulica Podkramarska 5, Gdansk; More info: Tram;
National Museum
Where: Ulica Torunska 1, Gdansk; Telephone: +48 58 301 6804; More info: Tram;
Three Crosses Monument
Where: Plac Solidarnosc, Gdansk;
Reference information
Map of all palaces
Public palaces near Gdansk
♥   Palace 'Abbot’s Palace' Gdańsk, 7.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Gdansk and around
♥   Art museum 'Muzeum Narodowe' Gdańsk, 2.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Gdansk
♥   Bazylika św. Mikołaja, Gdańsk, 2.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Bazylika Konkatedralna Wniebowzięcia NMP (Mariacka), Gdańsk, 2.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Bazylika Archikatedralna Świętej Trójcy, Wniebowzięcia NMP i św. Bernarda, Gdańsk-Oliwa, 7.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Bazylika Katedralna Wniebowzięcia NMP, Pelplin, 47.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Konkatedra św. Jana Ewangelisty, Kwidzyn, 71.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Gdansk

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In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah. Read this

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Photogallery of cultural heritage of Gdansk

Landmarks of culture on Gdansk map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

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Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Gdansk

Culture guide to Gdansk. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Gdansk: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Gdansk. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!
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