Gdansk Things to Do

This small green area called Zieleniec Heweliusza is right by the Great Mill. A nice place to sit down for a minute to rest, change the batteries in your camera or flick through he pictures you've taken so far. A very popular place even with locals.
The building in the background is the Old Town Hall - don't confuse it with the big Main Town Hall in Dluga St. (Gdansk has three town halls!). This little Old Town Hall from the 16th century now houses the Baltic Culture Centre, a cafe, a restaurant and a pub.

If you took the time to see the old mills and St. Catherine church, do walk up the street a little to take a look at this mediaeval tower. It is called after St. Jacek, the first Dominican brother in Poland. The tower was built at the end of the 14th century, and being 36m high, it was the highest and the best battlement structure in Gdansk. Its walls at the ground are 2.5m thick!

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St. Catherine's Carmelite Church is the oldest church in Gdansk, its origins date back to the early 12th century but the brick structure was built in the 14th century. Its Gothic tower with Baroque top is one of the most recognised landmarks in Gdansk's skyline. It is also known for the 37-bell carrilion which chimes its tune every hour on the hour as well as the tomb of Jan Hevelius, the Gdansk astronomer in the 17th century.
Last May (2006) the church's roof was on fire and it collapsed. Fortunetely, the interiors of the church was protected by a strong concrete ceiling so the fire did not threaten the ancient interiors. Many firebrigades came to the rescue. I watched the fire and the roof collapse live on TV, it was a heartbreaking view... When I visited the church in July I could still see water marks on the walls and smell the damp. I have no idea how long it will take for the walls to dry or how much money it'll take to have the roof reconstructed. If you're there, please drop a penny as a small donation. I did...

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St. Mary's Church is Poland's largest church and the largest brick church in Europe: 105m long, 33m high, and its 80m high tower dominates Gdansk skyline. It dates back to the 14th century when it was built on the site of the original 12th century's wooden church. It's just huge, its interiors vast and spacious (can hold up to 25,000 people), quite amazing really. Although, to tell you the truth, I didn't like the white paint inside, I wish it was stripped of the paint down to the original brick. Don't miss the 13m high astronimical clock from the 15th century! You can also climb the tower to admire the panoramic view of Gdansk, its suburbs and the famous shipyard.

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This little pedestrian, cobbled street is a must in Gdansk. Anyone who has already been to Gdansk will ask you: "Have you seen Mariacka Street?", trust me. Narrow, with beautiful old terraced houses, lovely facades and ornamented stairways and gargoyles, it's ever so picturesque! It was reconstructed after the WWII damage, and was the stage set for quite a few historical movies. It is lined with jewellry and craft stores, galleries and a few cafes & restaurants. This is the place to come and try to feel the atmosphere of the old Gdansk.

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The two mediaeval brick structures, the Great Mill and the Small Mill are a must for those who love old architecture. They date back to the 14th century. The small one is just cute, but the great one is quite impressive. It was the largest industrial plant in Europe during the Middle Ages, and it operated untill WWII. Now it's been turned into a shopping mall but you can still see the mill's old equipment in a small exhibition there.

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This little baroque beauty can be overlooked as it stands to the side of the gigantic St. Mary's Basilica (you can see it in the picture's background). It was founded by king Jan III Sobieski in the 17th century who had it built for Polish Catholics in Gdansk, as their own St. Mary's Basilica was taken over by German protestants at that time. It's a pity the interior does not match the beauty of the exterior... I'll be keeping an eye on this one, hoping to see some changes inside :-)
By the way, take a look also at the tenement houses in Grobla I St. just in front of the Royal Chapel (click for the other photos to this tip).

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When you're done with St. Mary's Basilica, walk up Piwna St. till you reach the Great Armoury. It's stunning facade and ornamentation are Gdansk's best example of the Renaissance architecture. I was glad to see it rennovated, with the gold leafed elements shining in the sun. It was built at the very beginning of the 17th century (1600-09) right on the mediaeval city walls.
It now houses the Academy of Fine Arts and a small shopping mall.
On the other side of the Armoury you will see the Wyzynna (Upland) Gate which was one of the most important entries into Gdansk towards the end of the 16th century.