Gdańsk

History:

The first written mentions of Gdańsk refer to the visit of Bishop Adalbert to these lands in the year 997 and this date is commonly considered to be the beginnings of Gdańsk, although a fishing settlement could exist in this place as early as the 6th century. Taking advantage of its location by the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Vistula River, Gdańsk developed rapidly as an important trade center. It was granted city rights in 1263 and for the following centuries it remained the leading trade center in the region. Over the years, as a result of conflicts between present-day Poland and Germany, Gdańsk changed hands many times. In its history, it was under the control of, among others The Kingdom of Poland, the Teutonic Order, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire and the Weimar Republic.
After the Second World War, Gdańsk was incorporated into Poland again. In communist Poland in the 1980s, Gdańsk became the center of freedom movements. It was here that in August 1980 protests of workers from the Gdańsk Shipyard took place, which led to the creation of the first independent trade’s union – Solidarność (Solidarity). Solidarność, led by Lech Wałęsa, continued to fight the government, which ultimately led to the overthrow of communism in Poland in 1989.

Modern Gdańsk:

Currently, Gdańsk is the main part of the Tri-City, which it co-creates with the neighboring cities: Gdynia and Sopot. It has an airport, a well-developed urban rail network, a football stadium, two large entertainment and sports halls and many other facilities that characterize a modern European metropolis. At the same time, many urban areas have retained their historical character. Gdańsk, as throughout its history, remains a tolerant city open to diversity.

Tourist attractions:

Gdańsk is one of the most visited and the highest rated by tourists Polish cities. Thanks to its rich history, it can offer many different attractions. Among some of the most interesting and famous places worth visiting are:

• Museum of Amber

Gdańsk is called the World Capital of Amber, historically it was one of the largest centers of trade in this stone and now hosts the world’s largest fair – Amberif. At the Museum, you can learn about the history of amber, the techniques of its processing and possible applications, as well as admire the prehistoric fauna and flora preserved in amber and sophisticated items made of this material.

• Westerplatte

It was on this small peninsula north of Gdańsk that World War II began. At 4:45 on September 1, 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein began shelling Westerplatte, which was the beginning of the bloodiest armed conflict in human history. For 7 days, with no chance of victory, Polish soldiers put up tough resistance against the many times stronger invader. The attitude of the defenders became a symbol of bravery and courage. After the war, in honor of the fighters, a huge monument was erected here, which towers over the landscape and reminds of their heroism. To this day, there is a military unit here, but the place is definitely tourist and nostalgic with a museum and a cemetery of the fallen.