The Best Of Gdańsk

the best of
Gdańsk
publisher:
The Mayor’s Office for the Promotion of Gdańsk / Gdańsk Tourist Organization
email: [email protected] / [email protected]
www.facebook.com/MiastoGdansk
text:
Grażyna Adamska
substantive consultation:
Aleksander Masłowski
We thank the following for making photos available:
The Hewelianum Centre, the Amber Museum, the Gdańsk History Museum,
the National Museum, the Nowy Port Lighthouse, the European Solidarity Centre.
Table of
Contents
“The Road to Freedom”
exhibition
02
“Energy, Sky and Sun”
exhibition
04
Lizard in amber
06
“Apotheosis of Gdańsk”
08
Neptune’s Fountain
10
King of all the furnaces
12
The Crane
14
Gargoyles
16
Astronomical clock
18
“The Last Judgement”
20
Fort Carré
22
Time ball
24
Amber megahit
26
“Shipyard” wall murals
28
Oliwa organs
30
2
1
3
“The Road to Freedom”
exhibition
Not far from the three enormous crosses commemorating fallen shipyard workers
at Solidarity Square, with a
SKOT armoured personnel
carrier at the entrance, stairs
lead to underground rooms
of a reconstructed absurd
world. The exhibition opens
with a display of furnishings
typical for the turn of the
1970’s and 1980’s - a period
of the collapse of the socialist
economic system in Poland - a
grocery stores with... bread,
vinegar, mustard, chicken
eggs, and the curiosity at that
time, so-called coupons for
meat, soap, washing powder,
cigarettes, alcohol and...
shoes!
The mannequin next to the
shop counter presents a typical street during communist
times - a woman tired of life
who returns home draped
with rolls of toilet paper considered then a great rarity...
Poland’s reality back then: no
freedom, terror, censorship,
worthless money, but also
the lack of vibrant colours,
aesthetic objects, poor quality goods and a longing for
normality - such a suggestive
atmosphere leads the viewer
to the topic of a unique exhibition “Roads to Freedom”. The
admission ticket is a copy of
the mentioned ration coupon.
The exhibition presents in an
attractive multimedia form
the subsequent stages of the
struggle for civil liberties: the
tragedy of December 1970, the
strike in August 1980, the socalled carnival of “Solidarity”
and also the introduction of
martial law by communists in
December 1981 as well as unsuccessful uprisings in other
countries of the Communist
Bloc. Also - the circumstances
of granting the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1983 for the imprisoned leader of “Solidarity”,
Lech Walesa.
The first failure of communist
terror in Poland. The first,
partly free parliamentary
elections in June 1989. And
finally: the revolutionary wave
that went through Central and
Eastern European society, restoring their freedom and led
to the breakdown of the Soviet
empire. Positioned near the
entrance to the exhibition
there are two wall fragments
from the Berlin wall and the
shipyard wall. They allow us
to realise that the fall of the
first, for many considered
to be the start of change in
Eastern Europe, was only the
consequence of events which
started in Gdańsk.
GDAŃSK SHIPYARD
In 2010 thirty years have passed since the memorable events
of Gdańsk’s August 1980, when due to strikes at the Gdańsk
shipyard under the leadership of Lech Walesa and the creation of “Solidarity”, the dismantling of the communist system
began, which ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the
Autumn of Nations 1989 and finally ended the division of our
continent into two blocs, separated by the “Iron Curtain”.
Taking a walk or a ride on the unusual Subjective Bus Line
around the former terrain of the shipyard is a unique trip
leading from the famous Gate No 2, through the historical
Health and Safety Hall, the workshop of Lech Walesa, the
Freedom Gate installation and the “Wyspa” Institute of Art.
The expedition route takes you to places where freedom was
born, because it all started in Gdańsk...
2
4
“Energy, Sky and Sun”
exhibition
the spirit of explorers and experimenters. The permanent
exhibition “Energy, Sky and
Sun” consists of two equally
interesting parts: The Energy
Laboratory and the Heavens
Laboratory. The first presents
different kinds of energy,
their source, transformation
from one form into another. In
two large aquariums one can
personally produce the effect
of a tsunami and discover
what exactly determines the
energy of sea waves and how
it can be used. “Newton’s
Cradle” and “Energy in the
Kitchen” are other places
where you can learn interesting phenomena where
physics ceases to be a school
terror! Equally interesting is
a meeting with astronomy at
The darkness of the long tunthe Heavens Laboratory. The
nel, a play of lights, mysterious construction of the Solar Syssounds and exploding colours, tem or the entire universe and
expressive photographs show- how they were imagined over
ing the most amazing phenom- history. A model of the sun
ena and cosmic spaces, excitcontrolled by hand gestures
ing walk through the galaxies, allows for learning the secrets
constellations, nebulae - a
of the stars. Caponiere
journey to the most distant cor- conceals many secrets. For
ners of the universe. So starts
example, from the exposition
an interesting adventure with
in the tunnel leads a narrow
science in the Southern Castaircase to the cellar where...
poniere on Góra Gradowa: an
- well, let’s allow the visitors
adventure, because the exhibi- to discover it themselves. It is
tion is interactive, awakening
worth it!
5
HEWELIANUM CENTRE
It is worth visiting the entire Hewelianum Centre, located next
to the Gdańsk Main Railway Station, on the terrain of the Cultural Park of City Fortifications “Gdańsk Fortress”. Not only in
South Caponiere can you spend an interesting time. The education and learning centre at the Góra Gradowa fort is full of
surprises. You can learn about the turbulent history from this
part of the city in the historic, restored buildings of the former fort, situated at the summit of Majdan fortifications and
barracks as well as the complex of the former ammunition
laboratory. The few dozen suggestive exhibits from the “Time
Machine - Man and Missile” exhibition will bring us closer to
the past. In the shelters and artillery are presented episodes
from the Góra Gradowa fort, trivia related to the art of war,
such as the history of black gun powder and a fortification
workshop. Who played and lived in the fort during the period
of the Free City of Gdańsk? How did the Radio Free Europe
jammer work? Models of selected fort structures, biographies
of fortification constructors, aerial photographs, both contemporary photos as well as from the 1920’s, a radio play in
which famous Polish actors play the roles of historic persons
and narrators. The sightseeing route, running between earth
embankments restored in accordance with the ancient art of
building fortifications, provides memorable experiences. This
truly is a time machine... In the future is planned the creation
of a planetarium on Góra Gradowa and using a cable car to
connect its slopes to the city.
3
6
7
AMBER MUSEUM
Lizard in amber
A long, veeeery long time ago, in
the eocene epoch, about 40 million years ago. The mythical land
of Fenno - Skandia (now Scandinavia) and growing on its lush,
humming, subtropical forest with
plenty of amber resinous pines.
What did creatures look like who
lived there? Not all of them have
become irrecoverably extinct.
Some have passed on to history
because they were imprisoned
in a sticky drop of resin and so
survived to this day. Scientifically
it is known as amber inclusion.
The most frequent animal inclusions are insects which are less
than one centimetre in size. It was
the most difficult for them to escape resin traps. Most inclusion
specimens are very rare. One of
them is the “Gierłowska lizard”,
a unique specimen named after
its finder, Gdańsk amber hunter
Gabriela Gierłowska. There are
only a few lizard inclusions in the
world. This one, in the collection
of the Amber Museum (purchase
financed by the L. Kronenberg
Bank Foundation) is the first
found in Poland, in Gdańsk, and
at the same time the second one
in the world.
The branch of the Gdańsk History Museum not only boasts of
this curiosity. The Amber Museum in the Fore Gate Complex
of Długa Street - Gdańsk’s popular barbican - continues its
pre-war tradition, alluding to the Gdańsk inclusion collection
located in the Green Gate which was lost during World War
II. The latest unique specimen in the nature collection of the
museum (purchase financed by the L. Kronenberg Bank Foundation) is the second, known in the world, inclusion of Solifugae in amber (these modern relatives of spiders are found in
the tropics, they can run at a speed of 15km/hour and jump
1 metre high). In the collections of world museums you will
not find such a specimen. In the recesses of the museum you
can learn the history of the formation of “Northern Gold” and
inclusion, the medicinal use of amber, see a display of how it
is crafted and finally beautiful collections, including the most
precious - objects from the collection of Georg Laue - which
were made in Gdańsk in the 17th and 18th century.
8
4
“Apotheosis
of Gdańsk”
One of the most beautiful European town hall interiors, the
stately Great Council Chamber. Intense red fabrics and rich
decorations. The culmination of painting expression is the ceiling, 25 paintings by Isaac van den Blocke. The central, most important with a multidimensional message, simultaneously telling many stories about the powerful city is the “Apotheosis of
Gdańsk”. Among the multitude of paintings from Gdańsk of that
time is one showing the announcement of a famous building, a
favourite today by tourists and locals alike, which at the moment
of finishing the painting still did not exist. Maybe the brother’s
artist, Abraham, who had a significant influence on the shape of
Neptune’s Fountain and Peter Husen - the author of the statue
presenting the god of the seas, betrayed their thoughts...
A major contribution to the culture of the city was made by the
van den Blocke family who arrived from Flanders to settle in
Gdańsk. Both sculptor Wilhelm van den Blocke, as well as his
three outstanding sons: architect and sculptor Abraham, painter
Isaac and Jacob, left behind exceptional works of art that the city
is proud of even today. Isaac became famous as the author of
paintings showing the size and wealth of the city that have been
placed on the most important ceiling - the Red Hall of the Main
Town Hall. He presented in them the specific programme of the
City Council and its duty to Gdańsk referring to ancient history
and biblical events. The “Apotheosis of Gdańsk” - the centre of
its story, presents Gdańsk as an ideal and chosen city, found
under the special protection of God.
9
MAIN TOWN HALL
Built for over a century in the Middle Ages, the original Gothic
town hall, after a fire in the mid sixteenth century, was rebuilt
in Renaissance style. It was coped with a natural size statue
of King Zygmunt August. The full, lavish interior in the style
of Dutch mannerism: The Great Council Chamber, the Small
Council Hall called the Winter Hall as well as the Great Hall
of Court called the White Hall testify to the power of Gdańsk
at that time and its role in Europe. The characteristic sundial
located in one of the corners calls to mind the relentless
passage of time with the Latin maxim “The shadows are
our days”. This is the most impressive secular building in
sixteenth century Gdańsk enriched with a wonderful chime.
Today, the Main Town Hall is famous for its replica of a set of
37 wonderful concert bells. Gdańsk is the only city in Poland
boasting the possession of chimes, not just one, but two (the
second is located on the tower of St. Catherine’s Church.
Entrance to the observation gallery lets you enjoy a beautiful
view of the city with music ringing from the bells every hour.
10
5
Neptune’s Fountain
Obvious ruler of the coastal
city: His Majesty Neptune.
Worthy place for the god: the
representative market. Fame:
legendary. One of legends
from Gdańsk says that when
the expected Neptune’s Fountain was erected at the place
of the city’s well on Długi
Targ Street, the admiration of
cheering residents throwing
gold ducats into the water
tickled the vanity of the deity.
His Majesty showed his mercy
and power, and churning up
the water with his trident
broke the gold into small
flakes adorning the wonderful
herbal liqueur Goldwasser.
Probably it was not by chance
that later the fountain was
fenced with an iron railing...
Apparently once every hundred years, at midnight, when
the chime sounded, the royal
happening repeated. Whoever does not happen to make
it on the appropriate night can
always try the liquor from one
of the restaurants in Gdańsk.
The seventeenth century Neptune’s Fountain is a symbol of
Gdańsk connection with the
sea and charming decoration
of the market. It stood on the
Royal Route in front of Artus
Court thanks to the efforts
of the mayor of that time,
Bartholomew Schachmann,
enchanted by the fountain
in Bologna. A century later,
it was richly decorated in
Rococo style. Since then it
has become the favourite
background for tourists to
pose for a souvenir photo
from Gdańsk and is an inspiration for painters and
photographers often sitting
on Długi Targ Street.
ROYAL ROUTE
The wonderful triumphal arch,
richly ornamented with stones
that are allegories of virtues
- the Golden Gate - leads
to a representative Gdańsk
promenade. Royal processions
paraded through it, greeted
by cheering crowds. The Royal
Route was the longest urban
axis of European Middle Ages.
Its start at the Upland Gate;
further it runs alongside the
Fore Gate Complex of Długa
Street, leading through the
Golden Gate on Długa Street
along the patrician houses
with impressive facades of
surpassing richness in form
and originality of design,
typical of Hanseatic cities. In
one of them - the Uphagen
House, is located the Museum
of Middle-class Interiors, in
another one the Theatre in
the Window presents their
performances attracting
passing tourists. The route
goes through the most
beautiful market of Gdańsk,
Długi Targ Street, closed
by the Green Gate on the
side of the Motława River.
Further, the route leads to
the Żuławska Gate, where
on Nowe Ogrody Street
the monarch’s procession
finished.
12
ARTUS COURT
6
King of all furnaces
The biggest tile furnace in Europe. The work of an outstanding,
sixteenth century potter, Georg Stelzner. More than 10 metres
high. Five storeys. 520 hand-made tiles. Rich colours and images. A peculiar document of the epoch: images of European
Renaissance rulers, Polish kings. Seriousness and dignity.
With one exception... In the middle of the pedestal of this
great achievement of European tile art and at the same time
proof of the multiculturalism of Gdańsk, at a height of about a
metre above the floor, is a tile with the characteristic form of
the legendary trickster among the medieval “posers” - Till Eulenspiegel. Witty residents of Gdańsk showing guests around
the wonderful Artus Court propose for them to measure the
width of the large furnace at its base with their arms stretched
wide. The measurements could not be made without...
unintentionally kissing Till’s bare buttocks! Only guests with
a large sense of humour were welcome by the hosts of Artus
Court. One of the legends of Till Eulenspiegel tells about a stay
in Gdańsk and... the sharp tongues of arrogant patricians, but
the guides will tell about that for those interested.
The tradition of Artus Court reaches back to the Middle Ages
and derives from the ethos of the European knighthood.
Buildings used for meetings of urban patricians and rulers
emerged especially in Hanseatic cities, among which Gdańsk
has enjoyed a special position. The Gdańsk manor is not only
proof of fascination with knights’ culture, but also the wealth
of the city. Its history dates back to the fourteenth century.
At the end of the fifteenth century it was the seat of Gdańsk’s
merchant brotherhood, the commercial centre of Gdańsk life, a
social lounge where the elite met, visited by Polish dignitaries
and important visitors from all over Europe. In Artus Court took
place feasts, concerts, theatre presentations and also court
proceedings. In the mid eighteenth century it was transformed
into a grain exchange. In the nineteenth century it served as
a place for big events and accepting distinguished guests.
The Artus Court complex includes the ground floors of two
connected tenement houses called the Old House of the Court,
Artus Court and the New House of the Court. The Old and New
House of the Court are tenement houses with narrow facades
characteristic for Gdańsk. The facade rebuilt by Abraham van
den Blocke differs from the others in its unique splendour
and wealth. The building’s interior - a huge, three nave hall
supported by four slender stone columns, one of the most
beautiful interiors in the world, is filled with hundreds of works
constituting a review of arts and crafts over several centuries.
Particular attention is drawn to a gem of carved art, a late
Gothic sculpture of “St George fighting the dragon”, a sixteenth century tin beer counter - the oldest bar in Poland and a
unique collection of historic ship models on a world scale.
14
7
The
Crane
A thick hemp rope, a system of blocks and two wooden
turnstiles moved by... walking workers. The crane’s medieval mechanism lifting 4-ton loads to a height of 11 metres
was also used to install masts. Located on the Motława
River, Gdańsk’s most characteristic monument is the largest medieval port crane in Europe and at the same time
a fortified water gate with two huge brick towers, once
protecting the city from the side of the harbour. Now the
majestic Crane, as a great example of historic port buildings, a witness of the powerful Hanseatic Gdańsk, called
the granary of Europe, is the perfect setting for exhibitions of the Polish Maritime Museum. Its headquarters are
also situated on the other side of the Motława River on
Ołowianka Island.
Ołowianka Island next to Granaries Island was an important
part of the historical port during its greatest period of prosperity. Seven granaries were located there. Currently within
the granaries “Panna”, “Miedź” and “Oliwski” as well as
“Mała” and “Duża Dąbrowa” that were built later is located
the headquarters and exhibition halls of the Polish Maritime Museum, considered to be one of the finest of its kind
in Europe. Among the exhibits presented one can see: port
navigation, techniques of reloading goods, what a merchant
trading office and middle-class salon looked like, as well as
the workshops of sailmakers, ship carpenters and ropemakers. The historic walls also hide Poland’s only permanent
exhibition of maritime paintings. The exhibition shows the
history of diving and the most interesting archaeological
sites in Poland and the world. It includes diving equipment: suits, devices and different types of diving bells that
were used to explore the seabed. Some of the world’s most
famous archaeological sites presented in the exhibition are
shipwrecks from Homer’s epoch found off the coast of Turkey.
The section devoted to underwater archaeology in Poland
presents the largest achievements of the Polish Maritime Museum’s research team - “Miedziowca” a merchant ship from
the fifteenth century, exploration of the Swedish warship
“Solena” from the seventeenth century and the English wreck
from the eighteenth century “General Carlton of Withby”. The
youngest branch of the museum - the Maritime Culture Centre
located next to the Crane is the only educational facility in Poland and one of the most modern facilities in Europe, which
in an interactive and multimedia way presents maritime
issues (60 interactive stations presenting matters relating
to shipbuilding, navigation, maritime technology, life at sea
and underwater archaeology). It is an exciting adventure in
science.
16
17
8
Gargoyles
More or less terrifying stone creatures. The names are
also not so pretty: gargoyles, gurgoyles, spitters, brrr...
The ornamental end gutters with fantasy shapes known
back in antiquity, coming to Europe in the Middle Ages.
Hundreds of them have prevailed in Gdańsk’s Main and
Old Town. They were unusually placed: preceded by a
stone trough, on the terraces instead of at the base of
the roof. They are a characteristic element of Gdańsk
architecture. The stone mouths of lions, dragons and sea
monsters rarely spurt out rain water, for they lost their
functions when storm drains arose. Such gargoyles adorn
the streets of Gdańsk, especially Mariacka Street, where
they are the most numerous, because almost all houses
were preceded by rich terraces.
MARIACKA STREET
This secluded lane for centuries has attracted artists
and charms a romantic atmosphere. The alley, leading
from St. Mary’s Church to the Long Embankment closed
with the medieval Mariacka Gate, is a wonderful example of old Gdańsk construction with characteristic narrow terraces of richly decorated tenement houses once
belonging to wealthy merchants and artisans. The terrace - a decorated stone carved porch between the street
and the entrance to the building - when the weather was
good, was the place of social life and a children’s playground for the residents. The lane recalls the wealth and
splendour of the city during the Golden Age. It is also
a testimony of Gdańsk’s taste and love of ancient art.
Mariacka Street was often a film set location. Today it
is dominated by jewellery workshops and galleries with
unique amber jewellery, touring musicians, photographing tourists and here... lovers kiss!
18
9
Astronomical clock
Theatre of figures:
apostles hurrying to
heaven being chased by
death, the sun and moon
wandering on the background of zodiac signs,
thousands of handwritten figures and numbers
incomprehensible to the
layman. A dark legend.
The fifteenth century
work of Hans Düringer: an
unusual, reconstructed
monument, hidden within
the walls of St. Mary’s
Basilica. The famous astronomical clock consists
of three parts. The peak,
the most eye-catching
for visitors, is a theatre
of figures: the apostles,
death as well as Adam and
Eve striking the hours and
quarter hours on the bell.
The central part of the
clock is a planetarium with
the proper clock, zodiac
signs and a disc with the
phases of the moon. The
lower part is a liturgical
timeline: a disc filled with
lots of marks understandable only for the initiated,
partly overshadowed by a
second - with the image of
the Madonna. The history
linked with the building of
the clock, a blood chilling
legend, is just as interesting as the work of the
master Düringer...
ST. MARY’S BASILICA
Erected for more than one and a half centuries St. Mary’s
Church is the city’s most commanding Gothic building.
It is the largest European church (it can hold even 25 thousand people!) and has no equal among all the brick churches
around the world. Its interior with an exceptionally beautiful
crystal ceiling supported by 27 massive pillars hides many
excellent medieval and baroque works of art, including the
exquisite, main altar, the work of master Michał Schwarz
from Augsburg, a touching stone Pieta from around the year
1410, a copy of Hans Memling’s triptych “The Last Judgement”, the Beautiful Madonna sculpture, a basket chandelier
from the year 1490 and the famous mentioned astronomical clock. The excellent acoustics of the raw, ascetic church
walls are stressed by the beautiful sound of baroque organs.
A magnificent panorama view of the city can be enjoyed from
the galleries of the impressive, 82 metre high tower, with
the characteristic silhouette of a flat roof proudly rising over
Gdańsk. Close to 400 stairs lead you to the top. Next to it,
in the shadow of the Basilica, stands the beautiful baroque
Royal Chapel with its original facade and three characteristic
domes.
20
21
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
10
“The Last Judgement”
The Archangel Michael weighing good and evil, the saved
ascending to heaven on crystal stairs, devils throwing
sinners into the fires of hell. The bothersome vision of
judgement day by the brush of the great Dutch artist was
obtained accidentally, captured as the spoils of war by
Gdańsk’s famous privateer Paweł Benecke. Hans Memling’s triptych “The Last Judgement” is the most valuable
exhibit of the National Museum in Gdańsk and his only
work in Polish collections. The painting, considered to
be Memling’s crowning point (his authorship was not
determined until the mid nineteenth century!), is of an
impressive size (height 242 cm, width 360 cm), with technical perfection and artistic beauty, and its dramatic fate
intrigues both with its message and its rich symbolism,
understandable only to insiders. You can admire a copy
of the work at St. Mary’s Basilica, where the original was
first donated to the church.
You can meditate on the message of the famous triptych in
one of the Dutch paintings gallery rooms of the Museum’s
Department of Old Art, located in the historic building of the
former Franciscan monastery. The stunning architecture of
the late Gothic interior is a beautiful setting for many valuable collections: Gdańsk, Dutch and Flemish paintings, old
ceramics, sculptures, famous Gdańsk furniture and works
of Gdańsk goldsmiths. The collection of the Department of
Modern Art containing about 400 works of outstanding Polish
artists from the nineteenth and twentieth century, presenting the most important trends in Polish art is located at the
Abbot’s Palace is Oliwa. Near the Abbot’s Granary is the
Department of Ethnography. At the Mannerist Green Gate,
the most impressive of the City’s gates on the Royal Route,
is a representative art gallery with temporary exhibitions of
ancient and contemporary art, both Polish and foreign.
11
22
Fort Carré
A typical sixteenth century defensive structure. From French:
square. A four-bastion fort designed by the famous Flemish
fortification builder working for Gdańsk, Antoni van Obberghen.
Constructed in accordance with the principles of new Italian
fortifications, it was to protect the entrance to Gdańsk port with
its bricked defence tower (the core of the future Wisłoujście
Fortress, majestically guarding the city from the side of the sea)
surrounded only by a three-storey brick ring. The fort has brick
walls reinforced in the corners with cut stones, casemates and
cannon stations. It is surrounded by a water moat and entrance
was once guarded with a drawbridge. In the early seventeenth
century a five-bastion Eastern Entrenchment surrounded the
fort, also preceded by a moat. The fortification builders of
Gdańsk watched over the safety of the city. Today the deadly
Wisłoujście Fortress rising over the Martwa Wisła River is a
great occasion not only for fortification fans. From time to time
battles are fought here as in the old times...
23
WISŁOUJŚCIE
FORTRESS
The name Wisłoujście comes
from the times when the
Vistula River estuary was
located directly to the west
of the fortress. The former
port in Gdańsk was located
on the Motława River, a few
kilometres from the seacoast.
Wisłoujście therefore was
a strategic militarily area.
Most likely during the reign
of Pomeranian Princes a
watchtower was located here.
It is known that in the middle
of the fourteenth century a
wooden building was erected
here. At the end of the fifteenth
century there was a stone,
cylindrical tower that was
also a lighthouse. The fires
burning at night from its peak
showed ships the way to the
port. Enclosed by successive
fortifications over the centuries, surrounded by moats,
modernized several times
according to the evolving
art of war, it was a strategic
component of the extended
defence system of Gdańsk.
It was from here in the year
1627 that the Poland fleet
sailed to the victorious
battle with the Swedes at
Oliwa. The fortress lost its
military importance after
World War I, in connection
with the demilitarization of
Gdańsk. Now, as a priceless reminder of Polish marine history it is one of the
departments of the Gdańsk
History Museum and a
great tourist attraction. It
even has its own... ghost!
The ghost of the brave
royal captain, Hans Kizero,
commander of the first
Polish unit intended for
service at sea, a pinnace
called the “Yellow Lion”,
even has his own... blog!
24
25
LIGHTHOUSE IN NOWY PORT
12
Time ball
An unusual instrument. Exceptional precision: time with an
accuracy of one second per... 200,000 years! A time ball. The
first ball functioning till today was installed in 1833 in the observatory in Greenwich. The city of Kiel in 1875 was the first on
the Baltic Sea to have, the second, a year later, was Gdańsk.
From 1894 it has been located at the top of a modern lighthouse in the Nowy Port district of Gdańsk. The rise and drop
each afternoon allowed ship captains to precisely adjust their
chronometers, necessary for determining longitude at sea. The
signalling system was similar to that in Greenwich. Every day at
11.55 the ball was pulled to the top of the tower mast. At twelve
o’clock an electric impulse interrupted the circuit holding it
with an electromagnet and the 75 kilo openwork steel ball slid
down the mast. In 2008 the famous time ball was restored and
today daily shows the time at 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00.
Outside Gdańsk the only city with such a ball on the Baltic Sea
is the maritime museum in Karlskrona.
One of the most beautiful
lighthouses on the Baltic Sea.
The modern Gdańsk lighthouse
was built on the so-called Pilots
Mount, where at least from 1849
their station was located. It was
designed based on the lighthouse
in Cleveland (Ohio), considered
the most beautiful in America. The
new lighthouse was put into operation in mid 1894. The elegant
tower is 27 metres high. The light
source then was an electric lamp
with a current of 20 to 28 A. The
initial coverage of 13 nautical
miles was later increased to 20
mm. The lighthouse was a pioneer
on a world scale: for the first
time the lamp shining at night
was powered by batteries, which
were charged during the day by a
steam-powered generator. In case
of an emergency, a gas light was
turned on. Today, the lighthouse
is owned by Commander Jacek
Michalak, who arranged a very interesting museum inside it. Here
you can see old lamps, historical
optical equipment, an exhibition
of lighthouses, you can see how
the ball time works and from the
peak - an extensive panorama of
Gdańsk Bay and the port as well
as the Westerplatte peninsula,
which is very important for history of the city. Arising from the
green mound at the entrance to
the port the stone monument was
erected in honour of the defenders of the Polish coast in 1939.
26
PGE ARENA GDAŃSK
13
Amber
megahit
236 m long, 203 m wide and 45 m high. Shining like amber in the sun, the dome illuminated at night is covered
with 18,000 polycarbonate tiles in 6 shades, with a total
surface of 4.5 hectares. 44 thousand seats, 40 glass
lounges. 4 simulcast screens 70 m2 each, 308 speakers
and 40 km of cables, 555 rolls of grass... The PGE Arena
Gdańsk football stadium is one of the most modern and
most beautiful sports facilities in Europe. And the largest
“amber”! It is the modern symbol of the city, just as characteristic as Neptune’s Fountain and the Crane.
Gdańsk is the World Capital of Amber, that is why the stadium
built especially for the occasion of the UEFA EURO 2012™,
considered to be most beautiful football arena, resembles a
piece of amber and the structural elements of the stadium
modelled after a ship’s frame emphasize the maritime traditions of the city. The stadium is located in the Gdańsk Letnica
district at Pokoleń Lechii Gdańsk 1. The stadium was designed by architects from the Rhode-Kellermann-Wawrowsky
company from Düsseldorf, who earlier created stadium
concepts for the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen and the
AWD-Arena in Hanover. The construction of the amber facility
began in May 2009 and it was commissioned on July 19, 2011.
The first match was played in it August 14, between Gdańsk
Lechia and Cracovia. On September 6, 2011 the Gdańsk stadium hosted its first international match that was played here
between Poland and Germany that finished with a 2:2 draw.
In June 2012 Gdańsk was a Host City for the European Football
Championships UEFA EURO 2012™. The stadium was an
arena of football struggles during three group matches (Spain
- Italy, Spain - Ireland and Croatia - Spain) and a fascinating
spectacle: quarterfinals played between teams from Germany
and Greece. During the championships more than 160,000
fans from all over Europe visited it!
28
14
29
“Shipyard”
wall murals
GDAŃSK MURAL GALLERY
A brick wall. A witness of
great history. Behind it - the
place where history unfolded.
On it - blue and black inscriptions on a blue background,
landscape of the shipyard: an
enormous story, full of emotions... Twenty three spans
of a great wall surrounding
the Gdańsk Shipyard (250
square meters!) until recently
covered by the work of Iwona
Zając dedicated to Gdańsk
shipyard workers: the original record of conversations
between the artist fascinated
by the Gdańsk shipyard with
its workers – participants of
August 1980 - an intimate
diary... It is a monumental
example of living art in the
city, telling about people
who influenced the course of
history. The fate of the murals
is inextricably tied to the
place of their creation. The
fate of this work is inevitable. In this part of Gdańsk a
new centre is being created,
joining together history and
modernity of the Young City
district. With its birth the wall
will disappear.
Gdańsk is a city renowned for its murals. You can find them
in many places: on buildings, in tunnels. Inspired by August
1980 wall murals are also on the pillars of the automobile
overpass on Zielony Trójkąt (next to the shipyard). An interesting collection of murals can be seen on the walls of skyscrapers from Zaspa, one of Gdańsk’s “bedroom” districts.
It is Europe’s largest collection of large-format paintings!
Every year in July during the European Festival of Monumental Painting – Monumental Arts, artists from many countries stand on scaffolding, in order to create huge, moving,
intriguing paintings. The wall murals in Zaspa are changing
the image of a grey, bedroom estate into an unusual gallery,
allowing residents to have daily contact with art. They are
also its host: they have been prepared to act as local guides
around the Mural Gallery. We invite you to take a walk around
this unique exhibition.
30
15
Oliwa organs
Angels, a movable sun, moons and stars, a delicate weaving of ivy and flowers. In the centre - a beautiful stained
glass showing the Madonna with Child. A cascade of sounds
imitating singing birds, whistling wind, splashing water,
buzzing bees and even a thunder storm! The monumental
Rococo organ with amazing sound and the exceptionally
rich sculpture of the casing is a wonderful decoration of
the Oliwa Cathedral. Its creators - master builders Jan Wulf
and Friedrich Rudolf Dalitz built it for more than 25 years.
Combined with the other two instruments, the small one in
the south transept and contemporary positive organ near the
cathedral’s exit together have a total of 7,876 pipes. Those in
the large organ measure from several centimetres to almost
11 metres! You can enjoy their amazing sound, with a special
echo effect, during short daily concerts as well as the famous
International Organ Music Festival and the final concert of the
Mozart Festival Mozartiana.
OLIWA CATHEDRAL
Oliwa - a quiet and charming district of Gdańsk, picturesquely
cuddled in the forest wilderness of the Tricity Landscape
Park, was sung by the famous traveller Alexander von Humboldt as the third most beautiful place in the world. It stands
out with the former Cistercian park designed by master landscape architect - Andre Le Notre. A walk among the towering
old trees and rare plant species leads to the Oliwa Cathedral
with its characteristic two slender towers. Erected as a Cistercian church in the thirteenth century as a Gothic, three-nave
basilica, it was built on the plan of a Latin cross, measuring
107 metres and is the longest church in Poland. Its beautiful interior conceals many art treasures: numerous altars, a
Rococo pulpit, great stalls, Renaissance portraits of numerous benefactors of the Cistercian monastery. In the central
part of the monumental presbytery rises the main Baroque
altar. Its “earthly sphere” consists of black columns arranged
in a semicircle. The “heavenly sphere” is a vision of heaven:
stucco clouds and angel heads.
N
CZ
AR
O CN
A
PÓ N
MI
A
SOLE C
OLIW SKA
LNA
AW
NA
MYL
UG
D
LN
A
I
S
PLE
LO
DE
CK
IEG
O
A
W
CH
O
DA
HA
ND
LO
SZ
KL
AN
KI
LA
OB
IE
GR
IA
LIS
RY
BA
RY K I G
BA
ÓR
KI
N
E
DO
I
UK
S I E R OCA
O L E J A R NA
OKU
ST
. RA
OT
PI
A
aw
a
26
o
T A RG RY B
NY
K IE PO BRZ E E
W ARZY
N ICZA W -
RY BAC
TO KA
IEL
NA
CHM
A
ST
G I EW
ZOW A
Y T N IA
PSZE
NN
DM IE
JSK IE
OW
RN
IK
Hotel
Novote
Centrum
A
WAL
E PR
ZE
WS
PO
NA
SPICHR
N IA
A
P OD
IA
MYD
A
RN
Qubus Hote
l
D
WN
A
OG
A
CH
UK
GIE
MI E
LN
IE
o
M
D
AN
ST
PO
KÓW
SK
ZNI
IEJ
K
ART
25
SZN
IKÓ WW
NIC
ZA
19
WIC
DM
GR O
NICZA
WR
O
SK A
D ZI
GRZ
K
NIIE
SK AERR-
G
Hotel
H
te
Radisson
Rad
B
Blu
Hotel
Hot
Hanza
H
an
I
PO
- B
U G LARS
O
K
IE
P O A SK A
BR
ZE
E
23
KA
C ZO
Hote
l
Hilto
n W
RSKA
MINOGI
TANDET
T
A
K OKR
WIA
BNIC
I NK
24
HA
KA
D YL
YT
U
G RO B - FUR
TY
LA IV
LE
A
-
NA
N
GRO
LA I BI
I
B LA
G RO
S ZA
IAC
KLE
KR
SK AAMAR-
A
ÓW
AN IA RS
KA
SK A
16 17
18
15
D
UG
I T
14
AR
NA
TOBIASZA
Dom
Aktora
W.D U
C
CH
EJ
KI
PL OLS
P
NA
IEL N
A
I K
R
ZE
E
KO T
I K
R
AM
I
ni
SZPITAL
CH M
AB
PR
OG
AR
A
SZE
RO K
21
AB I
KR
UK
A
AB
GROB
LA II I
ID
YG
BR
13
CZ
KI
YT
ZA
MU
R
ZB
WA
LE
WI T O
JA
MA R
NI
MI
NICK
RZ E
SZKLARY
KA
CZALETNI
-
LEK
TYK
C ZT
PO
A
A
Dom
Schumanów
Ra
du
TOBI A SZA
PACHO -
22
NA
D U
G
DO
ST RA G
S EW -Z OTNIKÓW
SZ
SK
S A
KO Z
ARS
KA
PI
W
kan
a
NA
KA M
O KR N
A ICZA
J
PÓ
KI
DO
W
O
E
Z
UR
PA S KA
DM
IA
A
OW
A
GA R
B AR
Y
KOZIA
SK
KO
DZ
SK IEJA
KA
AC
TK
B
11
KI
K A
D
A
W
MKO
AR O
E ST
WA
EN
LA W
PO
L
NI A TA
AN RA
A
WY
G LO
T
R EA
NA AL- T-
G W
TA R
BAR
Y
POD
GAR
GO
YS
W A
D
OS
ZA
ZY
KR
MA
RY
NA
AH
KI
U TA
PO
LS
KIE
J
WS
KI
NO
NA
N IW
K OCHA
AR
YN
EK
IAN
EG
O
ZA
MA
OO
GR
O
A
IC K
C A
W
T
AS
Y
US AW SK
IE
OG
SZ KO
A IV
O
GÓ
RE
WA
BLIS KA
M ORSKICH
KÓ W
RK
IP
OL
SK
IEJ
C KI
EG
A
OW
AN
SY B IRAKÓ
LE TNI CKA
W IL
LI
BIE
KO
A
DO
W
DE OTYMY
PI
.DU
CH
OS
SKI E
MIEJ
AW
ALEJA HALLERA
BACZY SK IEGO
HAL LE RA
RORO GA
ALLERA
A
IE W
G R OD ZK
LE
P
ZA
S ZE
R OK
20
URK
U S
KA
CZNA
NI C
PO D WA
A
IEN
PODWALE GROD
OW
K
SU
SI E N N Y
AD
C ZN A
TA R
K
TA R TA
G
SZT
IE GO
W
ORL A
CÓ
RT
OW
PO
A
SK
GD
ALEJA HALLERA
GO
BR
E
CH
RO
W IGOWA
CHROBR EGO
LLI
NEDY
3 M AJ
A
P
MKI
RN
RA
KR
P
SK A
MU
WA L
POD
ZA
L
IGIENICKA
OG
A
E
I EK
O S K Hotel
E Bonum
O SI
NA
Hotel
Wolne
Miasto
12
LN
EN
A
L AW E ND OWA
ni
CH
AR
PODSTO
AJ
Z KI
-
RSKA
UPIA
BISK
CY
M N IS
A
S KA
Plac
Kobzdeja
KO C
TOR
OW
PO
OLA
SK
A
A LS K
M
UG A
ZA
E
R
SO
Y
A
K IE
NIA
A
A
SZ
L IU
H
K AC
EDMIEJSKIE POD
ÓJ
ZA SP
WA
OW
A
E
OF
PR K A
S
K OW
CAR
GRO
DZ
LE
NA
A
K A TA RZ YN KI
RN
kana Radu
N IE
ST
J
A
GA
POD
WA L
E
WO
DO
S TA RE
3 MAJA
CI
Cm.
WYZ
ST
E
O
PÓ
NA
A
8 10 D
W. T
R
N
O
DO
3M
KA
ZDROJOWA
A
SK
GD
W
ALEJ
HA LL A
ER A
A LE
JA H
DW
O
RS
KA
CH OD
AL LE
RA
KIE WI
CZ A
ALEJA HALLE RA
AL E
JA H
A LL
ER
A
DW
ÓR
NY
A
ICH
WS
K
MA JE
NE CL
I
OW
AR
CZ
AW
JA L E J
PAW J AN A A JA
NA
A II
P
A LE
SZTY
A
A II
NA
PA
W
JA
SK IE GO
EJ A
AL
A II
NA
P
EJ A AW
A
JA
NA
PA
W
303
AL
A J
A
EJ
AL
BU RZY
W
A II
JELIT K O
CH O PSKA
OL
ER
EGO
O
G
K IE
AJ
A
K
O
G
IE
SK
ZE
W
OS
DO
R
A
B Z OW A
SK
A
PILO
TÓ
ÓW
PR
KA
S
A
OP
AC
K
E RS Ó W
CY
ST
LE NA
A
A
AM
WA
KI
W
O
D
EN
SKA
TOR
P RZ
TN
Hotel
Mercure
Hevelius
KI
A
SK
NAR
BED
I AS
NA P
SK
KU
WA
SAL
E
OKO PO WA
MENNO NITÓW
J
MI
W
HE
EL
W
AL
NA STO
P
BISKU IA
29
29 Westerplatte - Monument of the Coast Defenders
I I KRAJOW
E
SA
A
A
SZ
NA
RZ
LA
TA
A
PO DW
AR
M
LN
R
MA
ZA
BA
T
RO
KO
D BIE
BI E
L
BI E
SK
KO
A WY
EJ
A
LO
A
NI
NA
WI
ZA
PO
EL
3 MAJA
W
IL
TARG
DRZEWNY
9
AK
IE
GRA D OW
A
A
AG
L IU
WE
HE
A
R
AL
3 MAJA
18
26 National Museum
WO
C IÓ
28
A
C.H. Madison
G
11
25 Polish Maritime Museum
WA
A
W
GN
R
11
24 The Crane
11
73 Abbot’s Palace
O
A
SK
CK
ELI
Siedziba
Rady Miasta
12
23 Mariacka Street
11
72 Oliwa Cathedral
Z
WN IC
GA ZO
KA
A
I EL
STA
RYB ITWY
WS
K
WA OWA
O HUCIS KO
13
22 St. Mary’s Basilica
JA
O
Stocznia Gda ska
TA
Ur
Miasta
ZY
IA
IEG
CIU
W
H U CI SK
PR
STRA
DO KE JK U
RÓ W
RS
K
CA
POI N
OLIWS KA
UJ
ST
27
19 Green Gate
YZ
WO
LE
N
K
S
W 37
2
A
W
M
Bastio
n
.
NA ZAS P
CH
A
KU
I
26
18 Golden House
71 Wall murals in Zaspa
A
YC
25
17 New House of the Court
11
31
LN
ZW
JA
24
16 Artus Court
31
30 Lighthouse in Nowy Port
O
IO
J
KIE
LS
JS
KAR
JA
SU
6
Stoczniowców
Hotel
Scandic
IE
ZK
IA
KA
R
TA
A
4
1
Pomnik
KO
A
3 M
A
3 M
A
Letnica
WS
K
A
AZN
EL
5
Pl ac
Sol idarno
KI
Z
EJ
JNA
I EC KA
KUP
Gda sk
G ówny
PKP
OL IW S
W
UC
ZN
3
IU SZ
KCY
POD B
SKM
LE
N
A
27
GO
W
A
AL
7
WY
ZW
O
IW
GAL O
LA
SK IEGO
KO
GD YN
KO S
Gda sk
G ówny
PKS
ASIC K IEGO
EG
UC
ZN
IO
II
K IE
SKA
NA
RZ CZ
AL
RS
A JA
IE R
LO
E C N IA
Y
ÓW
IER
E
DY R
NW
KO
KOPALNIA NA
KO CIUSZKI
KI
DA
GÓRNI CZA
LW OW SKA
23
15 Neptune’s Fountain
28 Wisłoujście Fortress
WS
K
CH
A
T
AN
C IUSZ
KO
KO
KOLONIA URO
PSTROWS KIEG O
J
Nowy Port
OL IW
S KA
ECKIE
IENI
21
12 Uphagen House
34
27 PGE Arena Gdańsk stadium
OW
S KI
KR
OW A
W IEJ
GO
EJ
K
A
P
DZ
AL
GO
A
W
IN
GL
G
ER
NO
LB
GRA
DO
WA
14
21 The Royal Chapel
PRZE MY
DUNIKO WSK
IA ZD
SU
29
O
UC
ZN
IO
RA
Twierdza
Gda sk
15
20 Great Armoury
30
EGO
O
A
NA
IEGO
08
11 Długa Street
09
14 Długi Targ Street
IC KI
EG
STARO
IE
05
5 European Solidarity Centre under construction
22
13 Main Town Hall
Y S
SKA
JA
KI
NICK
AL
SZ
W
UN
IU
K IE
KU
04
4 Gdańsk Shipyard Gate No 2
20
10 Golden Gate
CZ
A
CH
SK
FREDRY
A
ON
GR
JS
A
NK
03
3 WYSPA Institute of Art
19
9 Upland Gate
A
S
MY
ZE
PR
WS
K
G
OZ Y
S KA
GD
KR AS
OWA
SU
G UDZI DZKA
S
Z EM
PR US
Y SKIEGO
02
2 “The Road to Freedom” exhibition
07
8 Amber Museum
H
N I OW SKI EGO
PLATER
NI CZ
P
A
C ZE OLS KI
RW EGO
O
K RZ N EG O
Y A
O
H
KR
R
01
1 Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers
33
7 Hewelianum Centre
CZN YC
KI
ÓR
IC
SK
OL
KOW
CIO
m.
06
6 Health and Safety Hall
KOR
ZE
ST ER
PO UDNI
DW
OP
LK
W IE
ZY
II
WI RK
Y
WIG UR
J
BA
HY
HY
NK
A
NA
SK A
Hote
l
WALE
IOW SKA
ZN
UC
AN
SK
A
65
ZN
IO
GDA
Cm.R
GO
A
POLSKIEGO
BA TAN
EJ
LIT
IN
KO M
NIE
GW
ST
K ICH
U
ON
Gd.
Zaspa
M
OP
PO
W
C
R
NAG Ó
A
CH
IE
OW
W
TE
SK
OJ
KA
J
W IZ
DY
EJ
AL
NO
RS
FI
L
RB
NO
ÓR
CH R ZA
LA
.W
AL
EG
RZ
E
PO
ZA
N KI
DW
A
NK
HY
OS
V II
W
NA
LI
DRO
ST
Y G LE
RB
A
WIT
GR
H
KIEG O
WS
YNY
A
IE
SK
GO
RA
PO
LA
EJ
OS
ZA
K IE
NO
AB
A
AM
II
A
ZE
Liva
l
PU A SKI EGO
ZC
71
W
PILO TÓ
ER
P
ZY
KA
DZ
AL
A
NK
31
STA R
HY
W
UN
GR
OS
A
SN
W
TOWA
AR
A
EJ
W
NK I
PA N E C
POLA
AM
AL
TO
W
A
UC
N
SS
BR
LE S
Zaspa
W CZ AS Y
MAZU
RSKA
Brzeźno
AR
NY
W
TÓ
ST
AL
T
AS
WIT
AH
AB R
CZ
CÓ
O
R
A
IE G
ÓR
A
SK
OPOLSKA
Park
K
WS
I
SK
DW
DW
Ó
SK A
TY
OLSZ
M EI
O
RN
Y
KA
SK A
A
ZK
A LD
A
H
RA
AB
Z ES
OB R
SK A
ME
IS
LI K
ZA
W
KO
KA
I
EC
SO
W
ZE
OBR
SZ CZ
A
Hote
l
Dal C
W
A
A
A
W
UN
OSZ
KO
E A
KO
GR
TW
AS
LUD
B RZ
AK Ó
SZ CZ
R OW
PSKA
CH O
CK
KRY NI
SK
S UP
SKA
SK A
SK
WY
Y II
E CI
A RKO
LBOR
ÓW
O C
SK A
JA
ALE
W IT
NK I
POLA
NO
RAS
D
ZG OD
I
SZ C Z
MA
KÓW
A
OD Y
SKIEGO
O
C ZA
PSKA
O BR
KA
RSKA
PU CK
ZY
CIER
M A LNEJ
S ZKO
NK I
ZG
OW
BE NI
IEG
SK A
OSK
KA
SK
OPSKA
BYDG
O
E
SKIE GO
A
LD ZK
WA
Y
O BA
IEG
US IA
KUB
SI
H ATKA
GO
PUC
I MA
JA SIA
POLA
A II
SK IEG
ZY
R UN
ZA
BA Y
SK
CH
RZ ES
KO OB
BRZE
KO
Gd.
Pr zymor ze-Uni wersytet
OS
Gdańsk
S KA
B OR
AG
A
WICZ
TW
RO
AS
W IT
NKI
PO L A
y Oliw skie
BO
FR OM
ALEJ
GE RA
KASP
ÓR
NY DW
MA JDERA
SKA
A
RA
AJ E
TE TM
WO
CZER
B O R A - K O M O RO W S K I E G O
S KA
ZA
TT
GRO
the best of
UB
O
W IC
KASZ
AN
ORK
DR OS
D OW
EG
SKI
ZKA
ZA
DE R
Gd.
Oliwa
ALD
IEGO
NYKA
P
WI TO
Oliwa
AS
MSK
Y
NW
RU
E RO
OW
TY
PO CZ SK IEJ
GDA
AG
O
YN
HU SA
KIEG
ALA S KA
W
MIR AUA
PO DH
I
A
ECZN
S ON
A
LIC ZM
CÓ W
CE
TTE
RPLA
ES TE
OS
WITA STW
NA
IET
POL ANK
O
O BR
I SK
AL EJ
RYB
PA TA
IEGO
OR A
72 73
SA M B
SKA
TOW
PIA S
IEG O
O
NIOW
Hote
l
Oliwsk
i
WICK
NO
W OJ
SK A
S IA
OW
NA