Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Gdansk, Poland

Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour, Gdansk

Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Gdansk

The most probable source for the name, "Gdansk" seems to be "Gdania", the ancient name of the river Motlawa. Gdansk began with agriculture and fishing and trade with Pomerania in the 9th century. It was annexed by Mieszko, Duke of Poland, in 975.

The center of town was the Long Market, with its craftsmen. German merchant settlements grew by St Nicholas Church. Gdansk joined the Hanseatic League in 1361. King Casimir IV of Poland incorporated the town into the Kingdom of Poland in 1454. It became a part of Prussia in 1815. It remained in the german empire until 1919.

The city suffered devastating damages in World War II. It was rebuilt in the 50s and 60s. Architects avoided rebuilding with the original German styles. They opted for the Dutch and French Mannerist styles of the Hanseatic era. Today, the rebuilt city looks far different than its appearance in 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland.

The Long Market of the Royal Way is the main road of Old Gdansk. It is less than 1/3 mile long. To walk it takes 15 minutes. The Golden Gate is at the West end. About midway is the Highland Gate. The arches of the Green Gate stand at the river Motlawa.

Cafes and shops line the Long Market. The god Neptune wields his trident above his Fountain. The fountain sits before the Artus Court, a medieval merchant center, now a museum. The iconic Town Hall with its tower is home to the Gdansk History Museum. Medieval St Mary's Church may be the largest brick church in the world.

Pass through the Green Gate to the Long Embankment and stroll along the river. Visit the huge crane tower and Grain Museum. Pass by pastel-colored Mannerist tenements, cafes and shops. Ride the Motlawa River in a historic boat. Visit Mariacka Street. Here is some of Gdansk's old architecture with terraces and gargoyles.

St Catherine's tower, the Solidarity Center, visit, eat, study, worship, and try not to miss the three week St Dominic Festival in August. Do all these things and have a blast in Gdansk.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Gdansk

Guide Name: Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour
Guide Location: Poland » Gdansk (See other walking tours in Gdansk)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 14
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Author: Caroline
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:

Green Gate
Long Market Square
Neptune's Fountain
Artus Court
Gda艅sk Town Hall
Ulica D艂uga (Long Street)
Golden Gate
Great Armory
St. Mary's Church
Mariacka Street
Dlugie Pobrzeze (Long Embankment Street)
Brama 呕uraw (Crane Gate)
Ulica Szeroka (Wide Street)
Hala Targowa (Market Hall)

1) Green Gate

The Royal Route of Gdansk had been the traditional path of procession for Polish sovereigns. One may walk from end to end of Long Street and Long Market, passing through the three elaborate city gates. Highland Gate, Golden Gate, and the Mannerist royal residence, the Green Gate.

The Green Gate is green because its mullioned windows are green. Built around 1570, it spans Long Market and Long Street. It was designed by Dutch Architect Reiner van Amsterdam. The actual construction was by Hans Kramer from Dresden.

Marie Louise Gonzaga, Grand Duchess of Lithuania, became Queen of Poland in 1646. She was an absolutely absolutist monarch and would absolutely not live at the Green Gate residence. Perhaps it was too drafty.

The Green Gate is located between Long Market and the River Motlawa. The building faces the river and straddles the long Market streets leading to the Green Bridge. Four rounded arches span the Long market as seen from the bridge. The building has two stories with one story above the arches.

Three ornate mannerist gables are set against the dormer roof. The construction was powerfully influenced by the design of the Antwerp City Hall. From 1746 to 1846 the Green Gate was home to the Nature Society, also known as the Experimental Physics Society. Today the Gate houses the National Museum and the office of former president Lech Walesa.

2) Long Market Square

Crossing over the Green bridge in Gdansk, one may pass through the riverside arches of the Green Gate. Emerging from the arches, one finds oneself in the restored medieval Long Market Square.

As early as 1552, Polish monarchs would formally enter the city through the Green Gate. The visiting royalty would be lavishly entertained at the wealthy tenements lining the square. There were feasts and fireworks galore.

The square was often a venue for more than feasting. Executions of witches, heretics and criminals took place here as well. After World War II the street was restored to its former glory. The Dutch and Flemish Mannerist tenements once more line the square.

Hewel House was the 17th century dwelling of shipbuilder Georg Hewel. Author Reinhold Curicke lived at number 9. Johannes Uphagen built his mansion at No. 1776. The 1560 Faber House was built for Mayor Constantin Farber. The Lion Castle houses the Russian Center of Science and Culture.

Other sights are the Schumann House, also known as the King's House. The Town Hall, rebuilt in 1561, has a golden statue of King Sigismund. Neptune's Fountain, created in 1617 by A. van den Blocke and surrounded by Polish eagles, flows again. Artus Court, built in 1350, is a branch of Gdansk History Museum.

The noble tenants are gone, but the historical square lives on replete with shops, restaurants, and cafes. It is a memorable, exciting stroll.

3) Neptune's Fountain

In 1606 Mayor Bartholomaus Schachmann of Gdansk decided the city needed a monumental fountain. The fountain would be near the site of an old well, not far from the river Motlawa and before the facade of Artus Court. The 14th century Town Hall would be seen in the background. The Artus Court is now a branch of the Gdansk History Museum.

Construction began in 1606. The statue of the god faces the royal residences, posed in a deferential bow and wielding his famous trident. The sculpture project was under the direction of Abraham van den Blocke. The statue was made by Flemish sculptor Peter Husen. Neptune is made of bronze, cast in the local guild by Gerdt Benning.

The statue stem is black volcanic tuff. The style is related to Flemish Mannerism. There were delays, such as the Polish-Swedish War, the death of Herr Blocke and the renovation of the Artus Court. The fountain was opened in 1633. In 1634 it was enclosed in a fence with golden Polish eagles. Nazis removed the eagles in World War II.

The fountain was renovated and back in operation with the eagles restored by 1957. In 1988 the god's genitals were covered with a fig leaf. The fountain was fully renovated in 2012.

4) Artus Court

The Artus Court was built by 1350. Today it is a branch of the Gdansk History Museum. The name Artus is derived from the legend of English King Arthur. Wherever knights and nobility would meet in Europe the name Arthur was often used as a sign of chivalry. Artus Courts in Poland were founded and used by the bourgeoisie.

The old court burned down in 1476. There were several restorations and in 1617 the court was rebuilt by Abraham van den Blocke. The style, as with the much of Gdansk buildings, is Dutch Mannerism. Statues of ancient heroes adorn the building. Scipio Africanus, Themistocles, Marcus Camillus and Judas Maccabeus stand guard.

The goddess Fortuna and allegories of strength and justice are on the gable. On each side of the portal are busts of King Sigismund III and Wladyslaw IV. The interior is an enormous Gothic hall. The walls are wainscoted with friezes of mythological and historical themes. There are paintings and tapestries, ship models and armor.

There is a 36 foot high furnace built in 1546. It is covered with more than five hundred tiles showing prominent European leaders of the time. Currently the court is open to the public along with the department of the Gdansk History Museum.

5) Gda艅sk Town Hall

The Main Town Hall of Gdansk is on the Royal Route, on the corner of Long Street and Kaletnicza Street. It is really a building complex of various additions. It is the second highest building of the Old City after Saint Mary's Church. Long Street is closed to all but pedestrian traffic year-round. The Hall is reached by walking.

In 1346 the city of Gdansk replaced Lubeck law with the so-called Kulm law. This change divided government into two parts, the council and the judiciary. Each division required its own hall. Reconstructions occurred in 1382, 1457, 1488, and 1492. There were fires in 1494 and 1556. After the 1556 fire, the hall was rebuilt and enlarged.

The post 1556 rebuild was done by Dutch architects and master-builders Wilhem van den Meer, Dirk Daniels, and Anthonis van Obberghen. A golden statue of King Sigismund II was mounted on top of the tower and a carillon was placed inside.

At present, the Town Hall is home to the Historical Museum of the City of Gdansk. In the summer season one may visit the observation gallery of the tower. There is an admission charge.

6) Ulica D艂uga (Long Street) (must see)

Long Street is among the city's oldest avenues. Guarded by the Golden Gate, it extends in a gentle curve into an area of the old burgher houses. The colorful houses are known for their Gothic Rococo styled doorways, terraces and porticos.

Curiously, the house numbers run opposite on each side of the street. This is a system commonly used on the older Gdansk streets. Some of the addresses are especially notable. Number 12 is a Museum of Burgher interiors. Number 71, opposite, is a survivor of Soviet barrages in the war. It still has its 15th century mouldings.

Ferber's House (Dom Ferberow), dates from 1560. It displays fine sculptures and coats of arms. The baroque facade of number 29 is graced with the figures of Roman emperors. King Wladyslaw IV held receptions at the Lion's Castle, number 35. Number 45, the House of the Polish Kings, has niches of Greek gods. The Town Hall is at the east end.

Long Street reaches through most of the "Royal Route." The street is cobbled and pedestrianized. There are several outdoor cafes, shops, restaurants and pubs. Behind the striking Renaissance facade of the Uphagen Mansion one can catch glimpses of the old time opulence of Gdansk.

There was an extensive rebuilding program in Gdansk after the end of the World War II. A limited amount of rebuilding was scheduled for areas around Long Street. Reconstruction was informed by old architectural plans, historical records and photographs. An accurate representation was achieved.

When one thinks about Europe, something like Long Street comes to mind. A vision of perfect, ornately constructed buildings lining ancient streets. Outdoor cafes, medieval gates, fountains, monuments, shopping, tourists; all this is somehow joyful.

7) Golden Gate

The Golden Gate straddles Long Street at the inland entrance to the Royal Route of Gdansk. It was built in 1614 to replace a 13th century Gothic Gate called Long Street Gate. The Golden Gate forms part of the old city fortifications, together with The Highland Gate and the Prison Tower, also located on Long Street.

The Golden gate was designed by architect Abraham van den Blocke of Holland. The style is Dutch Mannerist. Each side of the Gate has attiques with figures representing civic values. The values are: Peace, Freedom, Fortune, Fame, Concord, Justice, Piety and Wisdom.

A Latin inscription declares small republics prosper in concord and fail in discord. Badly damaged in World War II, the Gate was restored completely in 1957. More comprehensive restoration works, including the facade decor of murals and gilding were carried out in 1998.

8) Great Armory

The Great armory, part of the defensive walls of the Main Town, was built in 1605. The design is Dutch Mannerist.

The building was used as an arsenal until the end of the World War I. During the Free City era between World War I and II, the ground floor was converted to a shopping arcade. The upper floors were for goods storage. In 1945 the interior of the building was consumed by fire. The roofs, interiors, gables and domes were restored by 1954.

The Armory is a perfect example of Dutch renaissance architecture. It has two octagonal towers on the eastern facade. There are two facades and four gabled roofs parallel to each other. The corner turrets have domes and spires. The basement has a barrel vault with lunettes and pillars. The ground floor has four naves with six bays.

The west face is designed with four tenement house facades. The portals have arches with quoins. The Mannerist decorations are lush in the upper facades.

In May, 1954 the Armory became the home of the Academy of Fine Arts. Work continued on the facades and interiors up to 2005. Today the building is dedicated to "exhibition, education, promotion and archiving." It is considered an "Armory of Art."

9) St. Mary's Church (must see)

The formal name for Saint Mary's is Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Between 1536 and 1572 the church had been used jointly by Catholics and Lutherans. From the late 16th century until 1945 it was the second largest Lutheran church in the world. The church has been Catholic since 1945.

The church is an aisled hall church with transept. It is 346 feet long. The nave is 217 feet wide. It can hold up to 25,000 souls at one time. The first stone for the church was laid in 1343. It so happened to be the feast of the Assumption. The original basilica had six bays and a low turret. It was finished in 1360.

The current building was started in 1379 by architect Heinrich Ungeradin. The primary building material was brick. This was common to Gothic style churches of Flanders and the Netherlands. The church was finished and the tower raised by 1466. The nave core and vaulting was done by 1500, just in time for the Protestant Reformation.

No serious structural changes were carried out under Lutheran auspices. There was heavy damage to the church during World War II. Restoration began again in 1946. The church is frequently called the "Crown of Gdansk." It is considered to be the largest brick temple in Europe and the finest among the towns of the old Hanseatic League.

Inside the church is a wealth of medieval artifacts. There is a stone Pieta from 1410, and a copy of The Last Judgement made in 1472 by Hans Memling. An astronomical clock made in 1467 by Hans Duringer is here. The main altar was built in 1510-1517. The church does hold services. It is open to visitors year-round.

10) Mariacka Street (must see)

Mariacka Street takes its name from Saint Mary's Church. The cobblestoned street is short and narrow, lined with old burgher houses with mini-terraces, gargoyles and fantastic beasts. It lies between the church and Saint Mary's gate by the river Moltawa. The gargoyles guard against evil and spit rainwater away from the walls.

The medieval spirit is alive on Mariacka Street. The original wooden church at the end of the street was founded by Swietopelk II, Duke of Pomerania in the 13th century. The original name of the street says in Latin: "Our Lady's Street."

Saint Mary's Gate, the 15th century water gate, is at the opposite end of the street. The gate bears the coats of arms Gdansk and Prussia and Poland. Mariacka Street was once the home of workshops and stalls. The burgher houses are embellished with scenes from the Bible, e.g., The Dream of Jacob, the Annunciation, and the Good Samaritan.

Gdansk is the home of Baltic amber and Mariacka Street is the go-to street in Gdansk for amber. The most well-known and respected dealers in amber will be found here. Looking for the best coffee? You are in luck. Some of the best coffee shops and cafes are here as well. Let's not overlook Wine Bar Literacka, it has over 100 wines and fine food.

Next to Saint Mary's Gate is the Archeological Museum with its viewing tower. During Saint Dominic's Fair for three weeks in August, the street is crowded with tourists, bands, cartoonists and vendors. Many times however, Mariacka Street appears empty, pensive and serene.

11) Dlugie Pobrzeze (Long Embankment Street) (must see)

The Long embankment Street of Gdansk stretches almost 1/3 mile along the Motlawa River. Until the 19th century the piers and quays on the embankment served as the port of Gdansk and the river Motlawa provided easy sheltered access to the sea. Not many of the old port facilities remain. The medieval heavy lift crane is now a museum piece.

The pedestrianized area along the west riverfront originated in the 14th century. A series of mostly wooden goods platforms were replaced in the 17th century with a unified walkway. In the rebuilding of the city after World War II the area was refinished with concrete and marble.

The buildings along the promenade were utterly destroyed in the war. The ancient crane and water gates were rebuilt following medieval styles and plans. New underwater walls were installed. A new lower level quayside extended from the Green Gate to the old Crane Gate to accommodate passenger vessels.

By the 1980s the Hanseatic Mannerist style tenements along the promenade were recreated according to views of 1900. The rebuilt homes house cafes, restaurants and shops. The Crane building is attached to the new Maritime Cultural Center.

12) Brama 呕uraw (Crane Gate) (must see)

The silhouette of the great waterfront Crane of Gdansk is a well known symbol of the city. The first wooden crane at the foot of Szeroka Street dates from at least 1367. This structure was destroyed by fire in the 15th century. The replacement brick crane of today was erected in 1444. The brick western facade was not completed until 1483.

The Crane was the largest water gate in the city by far and it still is. The huge crane structure is flanked by two fortified rounded towers. The ground floor of the crane had cannon emplacements. Firing embrasures mark the upper floors.

The lifting mechanism of the crane was made of two pairs of treadwheels on one shaft. Four workers powered each treadwheel. The men walked inside the wheel like human hamsters. This system provided enough muscle power to lift two tons of load to a height of almost 120 feet. The crane was in ever dwindling use until 1944.

The crane gate was again damaged by fire in 1945. It was rebuilt by 1965 and it has been donated to the Polish Maritime Museum. Inside the crane building today are permanent collections, especially one of ordinary life in the port from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Another fun attraction is the two monstrous drive wheels.

There is admission charged for the granaries, the Crane and the Cultural Centre. Admission to the granaries is free on Wednesdays.

13) Ulica Szeroka (Wide Street)

Wide Street was the street of the Main Town. The German name was Breitgasse. The street is 0.35 mile long. From Targ Drzewny, it crosses Szerokiej District, and ends at the Crane Gate and the Long Embankment.

On the street one can find the bronze monument of Swietopelk II the Great, 13th century Duke of Pomerelia-Gdansk. At the end of World War II Soviet artillery and air attacks destroyed the street. It was restored and paved in the 1950s.

Among the sights to be seen on the street are: The Tower of the Wide Gate, the Crane Gate, Szeroka Street Square with its fountain by Alfons Losowski and the monument of Swietopelek II, The Post Office, The Gunter Grass Gallery of Nobel Prize winner Gunter Grass and his sculpture called, "Turbot Caught."

The house at 52 Szeroka Street was once the residence and place of business of distiller Ambrosius Vermoellen. Ambrosius was a refugee from the Spanish regime in Holland in the 16th century. He created Goldwasser liquer with its gold flakes. It was thought to be the drink of Gdansk.

There is a legend that Neptune's fountain once miraculously turned water into Goldwasser. These rumors are not based on established fact, but many believe it happened.

14) Hala Targowa (Market Hall)

The Market Hall was built in the late 19th century. The style is eclectic. The hall was designed by architect Kurt Fehlhaber and built in 1896. The interior contained almost 200 stalls and kiosks and administrative offices and a police station. The building was spared serious damage in World War II.

A comprehensive program of restoration was launched in 2000. During the renovations the original foundation of the Romanesque style Saint Nicholas Church were discovered. An underground archeological museum was founded under the Market Hall to house the medieval artifacts and bits of the ancient chancel and nave.

The Market Hall is located on the site of the Dominican monastery demolished in the 1800s. It is a single story building in the eclectic style with an elongated floor plan. It has a metal roof framework marked at intervals by mini-turrets with spires. Two rows of cast iron pillars divide the Hall into three bays.

Rows of clerestory windows over huge semi-circular arched windows give the effect of a basilica. Four entrances are positioned on the axes of the building. There are many embellishments, e.g., pseudo-avant-corps, polygonal turrets, buttresses and the coat of arms of Gdansk.

Walking Tours in Gdansk, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Gdansk

Creating your own self-guided walk in Gdansk is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Gdansk's Historical Churches Tour

Gdansk has a long history of Catholicism, hence the abundance of spectacular churches here. Let's delve into some of the most impressive temples that grace the cityscape and see what they are.

Saint John's Church, a Gothic masterpiece, stands tall in the heart of Gdansk. It dates back to the 14th century and features impressive brickwork and intricate details. Its towering spire is a... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

Solidarity Union Walking Tour

For decades, the word 'Solidarity' (Polish: Solidarno艣膰) has been synonymous with the city of Gdansk. The peaceful Solidarity revolution, started here in the August of 1980, marked the outset of the fall of communism not only in Poland but also throughout Eastern Europe.

Stemmed from the country's first free labor union born out of strikes at the Lenin Shipyard (now the Gdansk... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles