Gdańsk - Gdynia

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Gdańsk - Gdynia
POLAND
GENERAL INFORMATION Gdańsk is Poland’s largest
northern city and is the most interesting and historic of the
Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot tri-city area. Originally fortified
by the Teutonic Knights during the Middle Ages this fishing village turned Hanseatic trading center evolved into
one of the greatest ports on the Baltic Sea and molded the
Polish economy for centuries. These factors along with
the Prussian/Germanic influence and architecture gives
Gdańsk a unique medieval charm.
LOCAL CURRENCY The official unit of currency in Poland is the
Złoty, pronounced ZWA-tay and written as “z-l”. Notes are available
in 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 denominations. Each Złoty consists of
100 groszy, pronounced GROW-sh and written as “gr.”, which exist
in coin form. It is important to be attentive of any financial transactions involving cash as the currency currently in place was only
introduced in 1995. It’s a good idea to accept only bills that appear
new. Additional banks and exchange kiosks, known in Poland as
kantors, are most accessible in Gdańsk along with a limited number
of ATM machines.
The city’s economic power and wealth often led to some
political or economic independence. In the aftermath of
World War I Gdańsk was renamed the Free City of Danzig,
avoiding Polish, Prussian or Russian dominance. Years
later this city of extremes saw the beginning of WWII as
Hitler invaded and occupied Gdańsk for five years. Nearly
completely destroyed by bombing raids, the city was surprisingly rebuilt brick by brick during the Soviet post war
era. Gdańsk again came to prominence in the 1970’s and
80’s as the birthplace of the free-trade union Solidarity
and home to its leader, Lech Wal˛esa.
POST OFFICE AND TELEPHONE FACILITIES The main post
office in Gdynia is located about 2 miles/3km. From the ship’s berth
at 10 Lutego Str., 10. In Gdańsk the Post Office (#16) is located at 23
Dluga Str. In the Old Town.
Both coin operated and card operated telephones are located throughout the city and calling cards can be purchased at the Post Office or at
many newspaper kiosks. Some phones may require a coin to access
the codes listed below.
Historic Gdańsk is best explored on foot along the Main
Town’s Royal Route (Droga Krolewska), the main street
consisting of Long Street (ul Długi) and Long Market (Dlugi Targ), and ending at the Mot-lawa River. The street
and all its buildings were turned to rubble during World
War II, but were meticulously reconstructed in all their architectural glory. Today the medieval atmosphere, gabled
buildings, and elaborate doorways appear much as would
have 300 or 400 years ago. The buildings and homes flanking the Royal Way include Mannerist, Rococo, Baroque,
and Classical architectural styles.
AT&T: 00.800.111.1111
MCI: 00.800.111.2122
TOURIST INFORMATION The Tourist Office in Gdańsk is
located at 27 Heveliusza Street and at the Railway Station. The
Tourist office in Gydnia is located at 1 Zjednoczenia Av.
TRANSPORTATION Gdańsk is located approximately 15 miles/25
km. from the ship’s berth in Gdynia. Some taxi will be available on
the pier.
USEFUL WORDS and phrases
Yes • Tak No • Nie Cheers (bottoms up)! • Nastrovia! Good morning • Dzien dobry Hello (informal) • Cześć
Thank you • Dziękuję a
A t l a n t i c
O c e a n
A Value Added Tax (VAT) is added to most purchases. Visitors who
spend over a certain amount may be entitled to re-claim some or all
of the tax paid. Check with the individual shops for details. Regulations and conditions governing the refund of VAT are subject to
change, and the cruise line cannot guarantee the cooperation of local
authorities. VAT refund guidelines throughout Poland are currently
being implemented and this may hamper a VAT refund.
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S W
SHOPPING FACILITIES Gdańsk is home to a number of high
quality stores and souvenir shops, many of which are situated
throughout the Old Town and Main Town. Few stores will accept
U.S. Dollars, although most accept major credit cards. Gold, silver
and amber jewelry of varying quality, either set or unset, are common items of interest.
B
holic drink throughout Poland, although beer is a close second. The
spirit is traditionally drunk straight, not diluted or mixed in cocktails.
The local beer is Hevelius while the more popular national brands
are Zywiec and Okocim. Goldwasser is the local liqueur, which is
distilled with flecks of gold.
This information has been compiled for the convenience of our guests and is intended solely for that
purpose. While we work to ensure that the information contained herein is correct, we cannot accept
responsibility for any changes that may have taken place since printing.
© RCCL 2010. All rights reserved.
HISTORY In the 9th century Gdańsk was a small fishing village that eventually became part of the newborn Polska, or Polish, state. Slowly the area developed as a merchant port and emerged as a principality independent of Poland
ruled by the Slavs. During the 14h century the Teutonic Knights, a religious
military order of German Crusaders, seized Gdańsk, and among local tensions
fortified the city. Nearly 100 years later locals destroyed the Knight’s Castle
and pledged their allegiance to the Polish Monarch.
During the next 150 years the city grew rich on trade, becoming a leading
member of the Hanseatic League. The Swedish invasions of the 17th century
resulted in a loss of more than a quarter of Poland’s national territories while
forty percent of the population succumbed to famine and the plague. By the
end of the 18th century Polish rulers were being easily swayed by the influence of Catherine the Great of Russia. About that same time Prussia annexed
Gdańsk.
In the aftermath of WWI Gdańsk was declared the Free City of Danzig with a
German majority. The city became the center of German shipbuilding following Hitler’s rise to power and on September 1, 1939 the city’s residents were
the first to witness the beginning of World War II as the Nazi’s invaded and occupied Gdańsk. With the Germans advancing from the west and the Russians
advancing from the east, Poland was once again divided and many Poles were
used as forced labor in the city’s shipyard. When Germany turned on Russia
the Polish government in exile had no recourse but to ally with the Russians,
resulting in a devastating battle that flattened Warsaw. The Yalta Conference
dictated that the country remained under Soviet rule at the end of the war.
Stalin’s death in 1953 saw a great decline in the imposed “Stalinization” of
Poland and shortly thereafter launched a massive industrial strike that ended
© 2010 maps.com
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with sandstone slabs and ornaments consisting of the coats of arms of
Prussia, Poland and Gdańsk. The gate is the entrance to the Royal Way
that links Długi Street and Długi Targ.
the “Beautiful Madonna”, and nearly 300 tombstones built into the
church’s floor. Daring visitors can also climb to the top of the church
tower (400 steps) for panoramic views of the surrounding city.
The Foregate (Przedbramie) consists of two buildings, the Torture
Chamber (Katownia) and the Prison Tower (Wie˙za Wi˛ezienna),
both built during the 16th century. Today the buildings serve as the
Museum of Law and Crime Detection, which exhibits, among other
things, tools and devices of torture.
The Great Arsenal (Zbrojownia) sits just to the north of the
Golden Gate and is today considered an architectural treasure.
Built in the 17th century to serve as a storage shed for arms and munitions the Great Arsenal is now home to an indoor market. The double
towered façade is ornamented with figures of soldiers and a statue of
the Greek goddess Athena.
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The Golden Gate (Złota Brama) was built as a triumphal archway in the Mannerist style during the early 17th century. Designed by Abraham van den Block the gate is decorated with four
statues on each side of the building. The statues, sculpted by Piotr
Ringering, personify Peace, Freedom, Fortune, and Glory on the front
of the gate and Piety, Caution, Justice, and Unity on the gate’s back.
Nearly adjoining the gate is the St. George’s Brotherhood Mansion,
previously the residence of the society of the most famous patricians
of Gdańsk, and considered an excellent example of late Gothic brick
architecture.
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The Town Hall (Ratusz) is the most important non-religious
building in Gdańsk. The Hall’s tower is the highest in the
city at 267 feet/81 m. and is topped by a statue of King Zygmunt
August. Built from the early 14th century through the 18th century, the structure is an eclectic collection of Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles. Today it houses the Historical Museum
of Gdańsk (Muzeum Historii Miasta Gdańska) and visitors can
view the Mannerist interior of the Red Room (Sala Czerwona) and
enjoy the numerous paintings centered around an oval piece entitled “The Glorification of the Unity of Gdańsk with Poland”.
Visitors can also climb to the top of the Hall’s tower for panoramic
views.
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The Neptune Fountain (Fontana Neptuna) sits next to the Town
Hall and pays homage to the Sea God. Constructed in the 17th
century the fountain was reconstructed 100 years later when a collection of sea creatures was added to the work.
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The Artus Court (Dwor Artusa) is where the wealthiest merchants held their meetings and banquets. Built during the 15th
century the Mannerist façade was added nearly thirty years later. The
Court interior is open to visitors and houses a giant Renaissance tiled
stove more than 30 feet (10 m.) high.
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PLACES OF INTEREST
with 70 of the strikers being killed. The 1970’s and 80’s saw the greatest increase in strikes, which were becoming well organized. One of
the best known was at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk that ended with
the recognition of the worker’s rights to develop trade unions. Delegations nationwide met and formed Solidarity, an independent, self-governing trade union that became a national movement headed by Lech
Wal˛esa, an electrician who led the 1980 Gdańsk strike. As Poland’s
diplomatic relations grew its faltering economy was worsening and in
1990 in the midst of the ruling party losing its members at a rapid rate,
the government introduced a free-market economy reform.
Places of Interest The city of Gdańsk is broken into three
main sections; the Main Town (Głowne Miasto), the Old Town (Stare
Miasto), and the Old Suburb (Stare Przedmieście). Although all three
are home to many historic treasures, the Main Town is the richest in
architecture and is the best restored.
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The Upland Gate (Brama Wyżynna) was originally the main
entrance to Gdańsk during the 16th century. The gate was used
traditionally as the triumphal passageway for Polish Kings and later
the town’s forefathers commissioned a Flemish artist to embellish it
The Golden House (Złota Kamienica) is considered the most
beautiful building in the city and is decorated with rich carvings, friezes, and ornate statuary. The figures of Achilles, Oedipus,
Antigone, and Cleopatra wave to the townspeople from the building’s
balustrade.
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The Green Gate (Zielona Brama) marks the end of the Royal
Way and closes off Long Market from the Motlawa River. The
16th century structure was built on the site of a medieval defensive
gate.
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Church of Our Lady (Kościol Mariacki) is the largest church in
Poland and one of the largest brick churches in the world. Begun
in 1350, the structure didn’t develop into its current size until 1502.
The interior, which is thought to have room for up to 25,000 worshipers, boasts a number of beautiful and valuable works of religious art.
Of special interest are the Gothic 15th century sculptures “Pieta” and
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The Monument to the Shipyard Workers stands in memory
of those killed during the Gdańsk shipyard riot of 1970. The
monument is situated at the Solidarity birthplace, in front of the shipyard where the riots were sparked and is considered the city’s most
contemporary and important landmarks.
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The Church of St. Catherine is the main church of the Old
Town area and the city’s oldest church. The Gothic cathedral
dates from the 15th century when it was built on top of a church foundation from the 13th century. Although reconstructed after the war the
church’s interior still houses a number of its original treasures including 17th century paintings by Anton Möller entitled “The Crucifixion”
and “The Last Supper”, and the commemorative tomb of the famous
Gdańsk astronomer Heweliusz.
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Just next door stands the 14th century domed Church of St.
Brigitte.
The Old Town Hall (Ratusz Staromiejski) is a Renaissance
building of Flemish design. Dating from the 16th century the
structure served as the seat of the Old Town council and is decorated
with shields from Poland, Prussia, and Gdańsk.
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The National Museum (Muzeum Narodowe) sits in the refurbished vaulted interior of the former Franciscan Cloister,
a complex that contains the 15th century Chapel of St. Anne and the
Church of the Holy Trinity. The interior itself is a historic landmark
comprised of late Gothic and Baroque religious architecture while its
exhibits of Flemish and Polish artists range from the 15th through the
20th centuries.
SHORE EXCURSIONS To make the most of your visit to Gdańsk/
Gdnyia and its surrounding areas we suggest you take one of our organized Shore Excursions. For information concerning tour content and
pricing consult your Shore Excursion Brochure or contact the Shore
Excursion Desk.
LOCAL CUSTOMS Bargaining: Shop prices are fixed and there is
little opportunity to bargain here.
Tipping: Tipping is not expected in Poland. Tipping if you receive
good service in a restaurant ranges from rounding up to the next whole
figure to 5%-10%.
Local Cuisine: Meat dishes are staples throughout Poland and pork,
beef and veal are most commonly served boiled, grilled, roasted and
stewed. Golonka is a favorite dish of many Poles, consisting of boiled
pig’s knuckle served with horseradish sauce. Visitors can also try the
local gulasz which is similar to Hungarian goulash, or zraz zawijany, a
stewed beef served in mushrooms and sour cream sauce.
Drink Specialties: Vodka is the most popular and most consumed alco-