The city of Gdansk is situated at the mouth of the Vistula River and on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. Together with Gdynia port and Sopot spa resort, Gdansk forms agglomeration area called the Tricity. Each of the city offers different possibilities. Gdansk is an old Hanseatic town with over thousand-year history. This is where the first shots of the Second World War were fired when Nazi Germany attacked Poland’s military posts in the Westerplatte peninsula. It was also Gdansk where the Solidarity movement was born in the early 80’s. Gdansk Shipyard became a gate to freedom and Solidarity leader, Lech Walesa later served as post-Communist Poland’s president.
Historical monuments of Gdansk, tall merchant houses ornamented with decorative flourishes and narrow streets of the old town create its special atmosphere. There are a few gems that you shouldn’t miss. The St. Mary’s Church is the largest brick church in the world and its 82 meters high tower provides an excellent view over the city. One of the most recognizable symbols of Gdansk is Neptune’s Fontain situated in the heart of the city, in front of the Artus Court. According to the legend, Neptune angry at people throwing golden coins into his fountain one day struck the water with his mighty trident crushing the gold into tiny flakes which now shine in the liqueur vodka. Gdansk is famous however not only because of its Goldwasser but also its amber jewellery. Over the centuries Gdansk has been a major center of amber craft and if you are keen on it, a visit in the Museum of Amber is strongly recommended.
Every August St. Dominic’s Fair attracts numerous tourists to Gdansk. Its tradition dates back to 1260 and it’s an extraordinary event. More than thousand of artists and craftsmen exhibit their works then so everyone will find something they like. Gdansk was a birthplace to many famous people such as Jan Hevelius (widely respected astronomer), Gunter Grass (known for his great novel The Tin Drum) or Daniel Fahrenheit (physicist).