Amber, also known as the Gold of the North or Baltic Gold, is the petrified resin of coniferous trees from around 40-60 million years ago. It is characterised by a diverse and iridescent palette of colours. The lucky few can find valuable inclusions - chunks of amber with insects or fragments of plants inside them. The Slavic lands saw trade in amber flourish as far back as Neolithic times, and at the time of the Roman Empire the famous amber trail led from the Adriatic to the Baltic. The inhabitants of Pomerania paid in amber for weapons and tools, while amber nectar was used for medicinal purposes. Gdańsk was an important centre for amberwork in the Middle Ages. The famous Amber Chamber was constructed in Gdańsk in 1711. Today beautiful examples of this Baltic treasure can be seen in the History Museum of the City of Gdańsk, the Archaeological Museum and the Inclusion Museum in Gdynia but the biggest collection is in the Castle Museum in Malbork. It is also worth noting the world’s biggest amber altar, currently under construction in St Bridget’s Church in Gdańsk, and the unique amber monstrance, which is over 170 cm in height. Every year anyone can become World Champion in Amber-trawling by taking part in these unique contests in Jantar on the Mierzeja Wiślana. Gdańsk also hosts the world’s greatest amber fair, AMBERIF. Gdańsk has the only university in the world with a Department of Amber.

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