A panoramic view of the city
Fot. Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship

This beautiful city by the Baltic Sea, the city of Hevelius, Fahrenheit and Schopenhauer, is the capital of the Pomorze region. It is distinguished by its uncommon beauty and exceptional location. From the north the city is washed by the waves of the Baltic, while in the south it is bordered by rich post-glacial hills and the lakes of the Kashubian Switzerland. Furthermore, it is picturesquely surrounded by the lush greenery of numerous parks. This beauty was created over a thousand years of stormy history and by the creative minds and talents of outstanding citizens, natives of the city and migrants from the whole of Europe, attracted here by the city’s famous tolerance. In brick and stone they created the impressive architecture of the town halls, churches, townhouses and gates. There is a wealthy cultural heritage painstakingly preserved in the historic walls of numerous civic and religious buildings. It is pleasant to walk around Gdańsk at any time of the year, whether in sunlight or moonlight (when the beautifully illuminated monuments look as if they came from a fairy tale). Each street of the city has its own atmosphere: the wonderful Royal Route, Długie Pobrzeże (Long Riverside) along the River Motława and the enchanting, romantic nooks and crannies and the charming ulica Mariacka (St Mary’s Street).

The Royal Route

Fot. Przemysław Brozdowski

The wonderful Royal Route, leading from the Golden Gate along ulica Długa (Long Street) and Długi Targ (Long Market) to the Green Gate, charms everyone with the facades of its patrician townhouses and official buildings, of which the most impressive and valuable is the Main Town Hall - one of the buildings belonging to the History Museum of the City of Gdańsk. Its interiors are maintained in the style of Dutch Mannerism. The most splendid room is the Great Council Room (or Red Room), which is regarded as one of the richest modern town hall interiors. Its ceiling is decorated with 25 paintings by Isaac van den Block, all of symbolic significance, including ”The Apotheosis of Gdańsk”. From the Town Hall tower the sounds of a carillon can be heard every hour.

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