The main cultural centre of Pomorskie is the tri-city area of Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia. The historic buildings of greater Gdańsk include the Old Town, Hall, the Church of St. Mary, which is the largest medieval brick church in Europe, and the Oliwa Cathedral. The Cistercian abbey at Pelplin houses the Diocesan Museum, which contains one of the original editions of the Gutenberg Bible. The province also has several Teutonic castles, the most impressive of which is the 13th-century structure at Malbork, a massive fortified castle constructed of 4.5 million bricks. Cultural events include the International Song Festival of popular music in Sopot and the Dominican Fair (Jarmark Dominikanski), the longest-running event in Gdańsk, which dates to 1260. Notable museums include the National Museum and the Maritime Museum in Gdańsk, the Museum of Middle Pomerania in Słupsk, and the Fishing Museum in Hel.
Gdańsk is the largest city and capital of the Pomorskie province and an important administration centre with the area of 7,063 square miles (18,293 square km). It has a population of nearly half a million. Although Gdańsk was totally destroyed during Second World War it was quickly restored. It is one of the most beautiful towns in Pomorskie area. It is an important centre of economic life, science, culture, and a popular tourist destination. Gdańsk is a Hanseatic (a town belonging to the Hanseatic League - a medieval league of towns in Northern Germany and adjacent countries for the promotion and protection of commerce).
The thousand-year-old Gdańsk is considered to be the most monument-packed city of "Baltic Europe". Most of the monuments in Gdańsk are located near the heart of its Old Town District, around Długa Street, streets parallel to it, and the quayside (Długie Pobrzeże). The best place to start your trip would be the Upland Gate (Brama Wyżynna) and the King's Road stretching beyond it. Having crossed The Upland Gate, you'll find the Torture Chamber (Katownia), which is planned to house a museum of amber soon.
Next in line is the Golden Gate (Złota Brama) and, next to it, The Court of the Society of St. George (Dwór Bractwa Świętego Jerzego). When you pass the Golden Gate and turn left you will have the chance to visit Kabaret EWAN - best seen in the evening. People say Paris has its Moulin Rouge, Gdańsk has kabaret Ewan. Długa Street is the main track of the town, where you'll be enchanted by the beautiful renovated XVI - XVII century houses, one of them being Uphagen's House (Dom Uphagena) - which houses the Museum of the History of Gdańsk. All these magnificent buildings are overshadowed by the beautiful and monumental Main Town Hall (Ratusz Głównego Miasta). Walk inside, and you are in for a treat - the splendid interior was renovated not so long ago. You can also view a Flash animation documentary on the rebuilding of the Town Hall. Nearby, on the Market Square (Długi Targ) you'll find the symbol of Gdańsk - Neptune fountain. Behind it is the beautiful Court of Artus (Dwór Artusa) and the New House of the Court with The Lady from the Window and the amazing Golden House (Złota Kamieniczka). Tip: There is a place on the Market Square from which you can see three Neptune statues - try to find it! If you would like to feel like you are here now - take a look at the Panoramic View Długi Targ.
At the end of Długi Targ, you'll find the Green Gate (Zielona Brama), with the picturesque quayside (Długie Pobrzeże) stretching beyond it and Granary Island (Wyspa Spichrzów - unfortunately still in ruins) opposite the quayside. The Central Maritime Museum (Centralne Muzeum Morskie) is located on the quay with Ołowianka island facing it (during summertime the Baltic Philharmonic gives concerts there). During your walk along the quayside, you will pass Gdańsk Harbor (Przystań). You can come back here in a while when you feel like taking a boat trip to Sopot, Gdynia or Hel. But don't just look at the ships on your right, or else you will miss another great monument on your left - the Crane (Żuraw). And of course - St. Mary's Gate (Brama Mariacka) which reveals a street of the same name, considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe and leading to Poland's biggest church, St. Mary's Church(Bazylika Mariacka). While you're around, you mustn't miss the Archeological Museum (Muzeum Archeologiczne), the most important archeological institution in northern Poland, with its composed of 27 thousand archaeological, ethnographical, numismatic and natural exhibits. The museum also offers a quick, impressive tour of its tower, from which you can enjoy a fine panorama of Gdańsk. If you wish to taste traditional Gdańsk food, please visit the "Pod Łososiem" restaurant. If you feel like grabbing some fish, try out Tawerna - Gdańsk's finest fish restaurant. That's not the end of interesting places in Gdańsk. There are still a few left, one of them being undoubtedly the Old Town Hall, whose cellar conceals two cozy places: the Jadłodajnia z Wyszynkiem restaurant, and in the lower basement - the Irish Pub. If you've got a bit lost while reading this - take a look at our Interactive Map of Old Town.
Another place worth seeing is the Three Crosses Monument- a homage to the dockyard workers, who died in December 1970 in Gdańsk.If you are interested in finding out more about Gdańsk's monuments, please visit the National Museum, and if you have time - check out Wisłoujscie Fortress and Westerplatte. Take a look at the plan of the Polish defense strategy, when the Second World War started. You may have problems with reaching the Fortress and Westerplatte on foot, so check the bus schedules (bus line 106). Another one of Gdańsk districts also worth a visit is - Oliwa. You can admire The Oliwa Cathedral there, and enjoy the music of its famous baroque organs. The cathedral hosts numerous organ concerts in the summer. We recommend a walk through the lovely Oliwa Park, with its Exotic Palm House (Palmiarnia). While still in Oliwa, please stop by at the Abbot's Palace and the Ethnographical Museum, or at the famous Oliwa ZOO, which is the largest in Poland.
Sopot has a great geographical location - lying between the beautiful woods of the Tri-City Landscape Park, and the numerous sand beaches of the Bay of Gdańsk. Sopot is known for its sanitaria many artists and endless quantities of tourists, who mainly visit the city during the summertime. Monte Casino Street (ul. Bohaterów Monte Cassino) is the center of Sopot, a pedestrianised promenade. On both sides of the street there are countless XIX - XXth-century houses, some of them housing pubs or restaurants today. To discover the real charm of the town, turn into one of Monte Casino's side streets, where you're bound to admire numerous art nouveau houses, parks and gardens. One such beautiful street shelters the splendid Sierakowskich Court (Dworek Sierakowskich) - today the seat of The Sopot Friends' Society.
At the end of Monte Casino you'll find the Wooden Pier (Molo). It is the longest wooden pier in Europe. During the summertime, for a small fee you can enter the pier, and admire the coastline. You'll enjoy the sight of the Grand Hotel (one of the largest and most impressive in the Tri-City) on one side, and the Zhong Hua Chinese Hotel on the other, where the Łazienki Południowe (Southern Baths) used to be. In summer, there are jazz concerts on the hotel's terrace every Thursday. Another destination for a long walk are the Castle Hill Caves, Sopot's oldest historic site and the only monument of this kind located in the center of a contemporary European city. The Forest Opera (Opera Leśna) is also an interesting place, famous for its interwar Wagner concerts, and since 1961 - for the International Song Festivals (Międzynarodowy Festiwal Piosenki). Another place worth a visit is the horse racetrack, situated between Gdańsk and Sopot, built over a hundred years ago, and occupying a surface of 33 ha, which used to host international horseracing events famous throughout Europe. When you are in Sopot we also recommend you visit Aqua Park
Gdynia is a young, but quickly expanding port situated right by the seashore, offering many tourist attractions as well as splendid shopping opportunities and a lot of entertainment. The city was founded as a Polish harbor in 1926. Because of its unusual location, you will easily catch great views of the sea and beautiful scenery, and also find long promenades, beautiful waterfronts, marinas and yacht clubs. Gdynia is the only city in Poland and one of the few in Europe to pride itself on such a long and accessible seashore. The city has a good transportation system, so you won't have any problems reaching Gdynia from either of the other cities. You can get here by SKM trains, or by car. Kosciuszki square (Skwer Kościuszki) is the sightseeing center of Gdynia. The ships moored in the dockyards , like the ORP Błyskawica destroyer ("Lightning") or Dar Pomorza (the Pomeranian Gift) for instance, are the biggest tourist attractions. In summertime you can embark on the tourist ship "Viking II", which offers sightseeing cruises around the Bay of Gdańsk in the daytime, while at night it serves as a boat-restaurant.
Scenes that you could otherwise admire only in the depths of the oceans offered by The Maritime Museum and Aquarium (Oceanarium) will leave you more than impressed. Now we recommend taking a walk along the Seaside Promenade (Bulwar Nadmorski), or visiting the nearby Contrast Cafe for a beer. You can enjoy the beautiful panorama of the harbor and of the city from the top of Kamienna Góra (Stone Hill), easily recognizable by the large cross at its top. On your way to the little hill, you will pass the famous Musical Theatre (Teatr Muzyczny), which stages the world's most-famed musicals (you may still be able to get a ticket - check tonight's shows).
Another famous place is the the Municipal Theatre (Teatr Miejski), with its Summer Stage (Scena Letnia) on the beach in Orłowo, where all shows are accompanied by the gentle lapping of the waves. Jazz artists from all over the world often perform in Sax Club, located in the main building of the Theatre. Gdynia is also a great city for shopping. The most attractive places for spending your money are Starowiejska and Świętojańska streets. There is a modern and exclusive shopping center named "Batory", at the intersection of 10 Lutego and Władysława IV streets, where luxurious shops and state-of-the-art architecture intertwine.
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