DLUGA:

Dluga (Long Lane) is the main street in the historial heart and center of Gdansk. This is where you find attractions like the Town Hall, Golen Gate, Green Gate, the Prison/Torture Tower and nearby St Mary's Cathedral, as well as many good restaurants with open-air restaurants, and stores - souvenir shops.

Dluga, looking westwards towards the Golden Gate and the Prison Tower.

Townhouses at Dluga

Russian Culture and Science Center, Dluga

Dluga, looking towards St Mary's Church through Ulica Kaletnicza.

There are only a few chain restaurants, like this Subway, on Dluga

The townhouses of Dluga

Dluga, looking eastwards towards the Town Hall and the Green Gate.

Decorated townhouse at Dluga

Decorated townhouse at Dluga

Dom Uphagena (Uphagen House). Uphagen House was founded in the 1770s by Jana Uphagena, who forbid changes in the interior. During WWII the interior was evacuated and placed back in the reconstructed building in 1993-98.
It is one of few merchant houses in Europe that are open to public. We wanted to see the interior, but noone open when we ringed the bell despite it was during opening hours!

Dom Uphagena.

Galeria Starych Zabawek, a small but interesting toy museum, specialized in Eastern European and Russian toys from the past. Unfortunately it wasn't allowed to take pictures inside!

Golden Gate (Zlota Brama), at the West end of Dluga. Towering above the Golden Gate (Langgasser Tor in German) is the Prison Tower.

Zlota Brama, The Golden Gate, was raised in 1612-14. It was destroyed during WWII, but rebuilt in 1957.

Sculpture at the top of Golden Gate

Another sculpture at the top of Golden Gate (Zlota Brama), symobolizing the city's qualitys; peace, freedom, wealth and fame.

Zlota Brama, The Golden Gate, was designed by Abraham van den Blocke, the man behind Artus Court, in mannerist style.

Looking through the Golden Gate towards Dluga.

DLUGI TARG (Long Market, part of Dluga):

Dlugi Targ, Long Market, looking westwards at this narrow square filled with colourful historical buildings, such as Artus Court, the Green Gate, the Neptune fountain and the Town Hall.The tall clock tower building to the far right is the Town Hall.

Long Market (Dlugi targ) with a closer look of the Town Hall, that (together with St Mary's Church) is the tallest building of Gdansk. It has hosted city authorities as well as many Polish kings. The pink building to the left is Dom Schumana.

The spire of the Town Hall with the golden statue of King Zygmunt August

Main Town Hall (Ratusz Glównego Miasta), that (together with St Mary's Church) is the tallest building of Gdansk. It was rebuilt after the destruction of WWII. The interior is decorated with beautiful paintings, carvings and furniture.

Entrance to the Town Hall

The Gdansk History Museum is situated inside the Town Hall

Zielona Brama, The Green Gate. This renaissance gate, inspired by Antwerp's Town Hall, is a gate between the too main pedestrian walks of Gdansk; Dlugi Targ/Dluga and the riverwalk at Motlawa. On the other side of the gate is the Zielony Bridge. The Green Gate was constructed 1564-68 and designed by Reiner van Amsterdam. Today it houses the Gdansk office of former president Lech Walesa, as well as the National Museum and a conference/exhibition center.

Traditional man walking towards the Green Gate, that is the beginning of the so called Royal Route.

Dlugi targ with Neptune's fountain

Merchants houses at Dlugi targ: Artus Court (under renovation), Bench House, Golden House (Złota Kamienica)

Art at Dlugi targ

Golden House (Złota Kamienica) is a building from 1618, designed by Johan Vogt. There are 12 sculptures at the top including Polish kings, Cleopatra, Achilles and more.

Artus Court (Dwór Artusa, formerly Junkershof), a beautiful white building constructed 1348-50, is situated in front of the Neptune Fountain at Dlugi targ. It is the most famous one of the mansions at the Long market (Dlugi targ). Artus Court housed social meetings for merchants and social dignities, and is still today an important meeting place. The name was taken from the medieval legend King Arthur. Several Artus Courts has existed in Hanseatic cities. It was designed by the mannerist architect Abraham van den Blocke. After a fire in 1841, it was given a more gothic form. Unfortunately it was covered with scaffolds.

It is one of few buildings that represents Poland at the theme park Mini Europe in Brussels, that we visited some months earlier. The interior is impressive, but was unfortunately not open during our visit.

Nowy Dom Ławy (New Bench House), just next to Artus Court

New Bench House

Neptune's Fountain, Town Hall and Artus Court. Neptune's Fountain (Studnia Neptuna) is a bronze fountain with a sculpture of Neptuen and has became one of Gdansk's most recognizable symbols, reminding of the relationship to the sea.

The Neptune Fountain in front of Artus Court (under renovation)

Neptune's Fountain was erected in 1549 and made a fountain in 1633.

TARG WEGLOWY (Coal Market):

Targ Weglowy (Coal Market, or Kohlenmarkt) is a large square between the Golden Gate that borders the Old Town, and the Central Station. It is partly a wateland with parking lots and sculptures, but you will also find some of the most important historical buildings here. The square is also a place for activities, like concerts, and sun chairs to relax.

Prison Tower and Torture Chamber, originally built as part of the city fortifications in the 14th century, and rebuilt by Antoni van Obberghen 1593-1604. The tower was used as a prison while the lower buiding was a courthouse and torture chamber. Executions were held in the smaller building until the middle of the 19th century. Today it houses the Amber Museum and the Torture Museum.

The entrance to the Prison Tower, where you can enjoy views of the city. It is situated right behind the Golden Gate to Dluga.

Budynek NBP, PKO, BGZ

Brama Wyzynna (Upland Gate or Hohes Tor) stands at Weglowy Market, was the original starting point for the Royal way and is very close to the Golden Gate. It was here the Polish king was welcomed and given the keys to the city. Originally, there was a moat around it, that is why it is called upland gate. In recent years, it has been renovated and converted into a tourist office (note the modern glass door in the middle).

Budynek NBP, PKO, BGZ, bank building at Weglowy Market.

Death metal is popular in Poland!

ULICA PIWNA:

Piwna is a parallel street to Dluga. This is where you find St Mary's Basilica.

Ulica Piwna

Wielka Zbrojownia (Grosses Zeughaus), Great Armoury Building. A building designed in mannerist style by Antoni van Obbergen, situated in the important intersection Piwna/Zbrojownia. It was built as an armoury (arsenal) in 1602-05 because of the growing threat from Sweden. This is the main exterior (the other side is seen on the Coal Market section on this page).

Wielka Zbrojownia (left) from Ulica Weglarska. It was destroyed during WWII in 1945, but has been completely rebuilt.

Wielka Zbrojownia (Great Armoury) from Piwna.

ST MARY'S CHURCH (BAZYLIKA MARIACKA W GDANSKU):

Bazylika Mariacka (the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), or just St Mary's Cathedral, is together with the Town Hall the tallest and most famous building of Gdansk. It is a Roman Catholic church and was completed in 1502. Mariacka is situated on ulica Piwna, a parallel street to Dluga, just 4 blocks from the river, and boders Swietego Ducha and Mariacka streets. It is the largest gothic brick church in the world. It is 68m wide, 105m long and 80m to the top of the tower. The church was heavily damaged in 1945, when the Red Army stormed the city of Danzig (today Gdansk). For a small entrance fee you can enter the impressive interior of the church, and climb to the top through claustrophobic narrow stairs and larger concrete stairs inside the clock tower (click here to see the views).

St Mary's Cathedral (Bazylika Mariacka), the world's largest brick church. This 80m tall main tower is here seen from Piwna.

St Mary's Basilica, Marienkirche in German

This half-timbered house looks very small at the foot of the basilica!

St Mary's Cathedral is occupying a large part of the Old Town and is visible from many spots in the city.

The nave of St Mary's Church (Bazylika Mariacka) towards the altar. 300 tombstones and 31 chapels can be found inside the cathedral.

Interior, St Mary's Basilica

Interior, St Mary's Basilica

Roof of St Mary's Church (Bazylika Mariacka). The interior holds up to 25 000 people, and in 1981-83 people sought refuge during the Solidarity movement.

Interior, St Mary's Basilica

Interior, St Mary's Basilica

SWIETEGO DUCHA and TARG CHLEBOWNY- a street and a square next to St Mary's Cathedral:

This group of "zombies" (or is it dead vampires?) suddently appeared at Targ Chlebowny outside St Mary's Cathedral (and later at River Motlawa) in a kind of performance. 11 young people were walking like dead or apathic people in random patterns, connected by a long piece of red cloth, and lead by a "king" that was their leader.

"Zombie " performance, Targ Chlebowny

"Zombie " performance, Targ Chlebowny

Brama Mariacka (St Mary's Gate), one of the old gates towards River Motlawa

ULICA MARIACKA:

This is a very nice picturesque, but short street that goes from St Mary's Church and ends at the Old City Gate next to the river. Along Mariacka you find mostly specialized amber shops, jewel shops and art galleries, many of them located in basements.

Mariacka, one of the nicest streets in Gdansk's Old Town, is specialized in amber stores and arts galleries.

Gothic Guesthouse at Mariacka

Gothic House at Mariacka

Mariacka, one of the nicest streets in Gdansk's Old Town, is specialized in amber stores and arts galleries.

Ulica Mariacka

Mariacka street

Mariacka, towards St Mary's Church ((Bazylika Mariacka), the church it is named after.

Art gallery at Mariacka

Amber store at Mariacka

St John's Church (Kosciól sw. Jana) in the Old Town, here seen from St Mary's Church. This huge brick church is situated near River Motlawa and was built in the 1300s and completed in the 15th century. Johannes Hevelius was christened there in 1611, and today many concerts take place there. Since it was mistakingly built on swampland, it has been sinking, and after it was burnt during WWII, the building has been restored with its gothic interior by St John's Center.

OGARNA STREET:

KAMIENICA ZACISZE (our apartment hotel/guesthouse):

We stayed at the Kamienica Zacisze, a small apartment hotel right in the heart of Gdansk, Ulica Ogarna, a parallel street to Ulica Dluga and just a few minutes away from most of the sights. It was incredible value for money, for only about 100 euros for 3 nights and 2 persons you get a whole apartment with fashionable furniture -some in old style, a modern kitchen, marble toilet with shower, a bedroom and views over St Mary's Church and the City Hall from the window. It is only reachable from a courtyard, the building has 5 floors with an elevator luckily. The only downside is that it is self service with no restaurants or other facitilites, and almost no staff, they were not the most friendly (they didn't say anything to us upon check in, just gave us a paper to sign and a key). In general, Poland is not exactly the country of service and politeness, people are not rude but they are very introvert and don't say much at all. Partly that could be because they are not used to speak English.

VIEWS FROM OUR APARTMENT: