We started off the final day of our weekend in Gdansk with a short tram ride to the European Solidarity Centre which was constructed alongside the historic shipyards. It is free to enter the building but tickets are required for the permanent exhibition 30zl (£5.55).
The exhibition begins with the widespread strikes of August 1980 following more than ten years of unrest. It details the birth of the Solidarity movement and the emergence of Lech Walęsa as their leader. Also covered is the Polish born Pope John Paul’s visit to his homeland the effects of which led to freedom not only for Poland but for all the occupied countries of the communist bloc.
The building has a large atrium filled with trees and plants, feeling light and airy. There’s also a large reference library, conference facilities, cafe and gift shop. We took the lift up to the rooftop terrace from where there are splendid views overlooking the shipyards and further afield.
Outdoors in Solidarity Square stands the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard workers of 1970. The memorial was unveiled in 1980 to commemorate the events of 1970 when 45 people died during street riots against the communist regime.
To one side of the monument is Gate 2 of the Gdansk shipyard. This famous gate is where Lech Walęsca stood to announce that a deal had been secured with the Communist government in 1980.
Leaving there we hopped back onto a tram back to the old town so that we could visit the Museum of Amber. Standard admission 12zl (£4.08) Included in the Gdansk Card. The museum moved into new premises in 2021 and arranged over two floors there are dazzling displays of the stone illuminated against black walls providing a striking contrast.
The exhibition begins by taking visitors back millions of years to when fossil resins and Baltic amber began to form. The Baltic Sea is unique for its wealth of amber deposits with small nuggets of this semi-precious stone found around the coast.
The museum goes on to describe how amber is extracted, what its properties are and the ways it has been used across the ages. On display are natural lumps of stone as well as finished products such as jewellery, utensils, sculptures and ornaments. I knew very little about amber before visiting but enjoyed learning about this semi-precious stone in this well designed and informative museum.
Leaving there, our next stop was to the National Museum of Gdansk standard entrance 10zl (£1.86). The museum is located in a former Franciscan monastery and is a joy to visit to admire the inside of the building with its vaulted ceilings and large, sweeping staircases. The galleries contain paintings and sketches by European masters from the end of the 15th to the beginning of the 19th century.
On display is the Last Judgement by Hans Memling which was created between 1461-1471 and is one of the most valuable pieces of work owned by the museum after it was returned to Gdansk by Russia in 1956.
Close to the museum lies the Gdansk Market Hall, constructed in 1896 in neo-Gothic style this red brick and wrought iron masterpiece could easily be mistaken for a grand railway station. Going indoors we found it to offer the usual range of market items from clothes and footwear through to household items. Outside we discovered more stallholders selling fresh fruit, vegetables and tasty snacks.
Our walk then continued to the magnificent Green Gate that forms the link between the old town and Granary Island. We had walked through these archways numerous times over the weekend but not yet been inside the building which is home to the Green Gate Photo Museum, entrance 5zl (93p). The museum forms part of the National Museum we had just visited and displays sketches of old Gdansk within its two rooms. The sketches were interesting but as none of the signage was in English we had difficulty understanding their significance. The building was a good place though to enjoy aerial views of both Long Market and the riverside. I am unable to include any photos as this is not permitted inside the museum.
On leaving there we wandered over to Granary Island to visit the Blue Lamb Granary which is a branch of the Archaeological Museum. It’s located in one of the former granaries close to the river and is yet another of Gdańsk’s museums located in historic buildings.
We didn’t know quite what to expect but were very impressed with the museum layout, signage and exhibits which include a recreated Hanseatic street from the 14th/15th century. Wandering along this alleyway we felt as if we had been transported back to medieval times with the sights and sounds of life during those days. Displays of craft workshops, people’s homes and shops help to bring the museum to life and whilst we were there a primary school group were enjoying the galleries just as much as we were.
This concluded our visit to Gdansk’s museums, many of which we’d had an opportunity to visit during our four day visit. There was still time for one last stroll through the delightful old town and whilst making our way along Long Market we noticed a Fahrenheit thermometer on display so paused to take a closer look. We discovered that Daniel Fahrenheit (1786-1736) the physicist and inventor was born on an adjoining street from this recreation of his ‘mercury in the glass’. He gave his name to the temperature scale and his contribution to science has endured for centuries. Whilst many nations have since abandoned the Fahrenheit scale in favour of Celsius it is still widely used in the USA and several other countries.
After our gentle stroll we enjoyed dinner at a restaurant on Granary Island before collecting our luggage and heading back to the airport. For the return journey we decided on a different method opting to take a tram to the central railway station and then a bus from outside which took us straight back to the airport. This took about the same length of time as the train/tram option that we used on arrival but as the bus service is less frequent I think it’s best to check the timetable to see if it fits with your arrival time before deciding which one to take.
The airport was operating efficiently with our return flight to London Stansted departing on time. The end of a super weekend in Gdansk, a city that I would highly recommend visiting.
Our visit was supported by Visit Gdansk and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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I have really loved this series and the view of a part of Poland I had never heard of before. The amber museum looks really amazing, and how striking those piece are against that dark background. The archeology museum looks really fascinating. Great tour of this area Marion 🙂
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Thanks so much for your interest and support of my blog Meg. I do hope that you get a chance to visit Gdańsk at some point.
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Seems like a fun, yet busy day of exploring many of the museums in Gdansk. Even the buildings of some of these museums look beautiful. I love all the pretty stones on display in the Museum of Amber. Thanks for sharing. Linda
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Gdansk is filled with beautiful architecture Linda and the dazzling amber on display was gorgeous. Thanks for taking the time to comment, it’s much appreciated.
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Another illustrated excellent tour. Thank you! I like the increasing interest in growing vegetation on the roofs of buildings in a city. Good practice for the environment.
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I like to see vegetation growing on buildings too. In Warsaw they even had bee hives up there! Thanks for taking the time to comment, it’s much appreciated.
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Thanks for an enjoyable jaunt in Gdansk, Marion. Cheers to for Memling and Fahrenheit, the best way to gauge the heat.
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So pleased you enjoyed this series of posts, thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
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I (Kellye) thoroughly enjoyed tagging along on your visit to Gdansk. You must’ve been tired after doing so much and visiting so many places in just four days! Thank you for sharing Gdansk’s wonderful museums and interesting history.
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I’m so pleased Kelleye to read that you enjoyed this series of posts on Gdańsk. It’s such a wonderful city and we returned home with fond memories.
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Love the variety of sites and museums you saw! I had no idea there could be a museum about amber.
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Baltic amber is so beautiful and it was so interesting to learn about this semi-precious stone. Thanks do much for commenting Lyssy.
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Looks like you had a great trip, Marion! I would love to visit the Museum of Amber – based purely on how it is formed, amber is perhaps one of the most interesting gemstones of all. In my native country, the stone is not only used in jewellery, it’s also used in a number of different decorative objects and has been popular for hundreds of years. Plus, it’s used as a healing agent in ancient folk medicine. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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How interesting to learn that Amber is used as a healing agent in ancient folk medicine in the Baltic region. We enjoyed a splendid few days in Gdańsk and would be more than happy to return again in a year or two.
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Such a good day – the Solidarity Centre must have been interesting to explore. And that amber is incredible 🙂
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It was indeed a splendid final day in Gdańsk Hannah and the Baltic amber was gorgeous to view.
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A solid sendoff Marion with these essential sights. I hadn’t been familiar with the solidarity movement and that so much of its history lies connected to Gdansk. The National Museum is such a handsome building, I love these kinds of church conversions.
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With so much to see in Gdańsk there was plenty to keep up occupied during our final day. The amber was beautiful and interesting to learn about its origins in the Baltic.
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Your post made me mourn the gorgeous pieces of amber jewellery that I had acquired in Poland and the USSR and which were stolen in a house break-in when I returned to Australia. How sad … but what a wonderful insight into Gdansk and the very seat of Walesa’s uprising. I so remember being glued to the television during those days.
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How sad and annoying that your amber jewellery was stolen whilst you were away. We had a break awhile back whilst we were away for a weekend in London and it’s was the personal, sentimental items that are irreplaceable that I was most upset about losing, such as an engraved watch to mark a grandparent’s retirement. Getting back to Gdańsk, it’s a wonderful city and I too remember the uprising of the shipyards on TV.
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What a wonderful end to your time in Gdansk! I’ve heard that amber is a huge deal in that part of Europe, and I especially heard they’re abundant in the Baltic countries like Lithuania and Latvia (just a country away…). Happy to hear you had a wonderful short getaway, and I’m looking forward to your next holiday, wherever it may be!
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Thanks so much for your continued interest in this series of posts on Gdansk Rebecca. It’s a beautiful city and viewing all that dazzling amber on our final day was very special.
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I like the way the amber pieces are displayed. One thing I learned from your trip to Gdansk is that their buildings are quite unique – it’s a style I don’t really see in other countries. Oh, hang on … and I learned where the word ‘Fahrenheit’ originated from 😉. Thank you once again Marion for introducing me to Gdansk – I’ve enjoyed this (as I always do).
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The amber really dazzled in its display cases with the clever use of lighting. Visiting Gdańsk was delightful and I’d like to return again at some point to enjoy its architecture, waterfront and of course the food. Thanks so much for taking an interest in this series of posts Corna and for your ever welcome thoughts.
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An excellent last day Marion, hitting all the highlights. Hopefully Poland is not Putin’s next target. Love the amber museum. We saw something similar in NZ, but it was kauri gum, petrified kauri resin. Some beautiful works were created there. Thanks for sharing. Happy Sunday. Allan
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Thank you for your kind words Alan and interest in this post. Gdańsk has so much to offer and it’s interesting to read that NZ has a similar semi precious stone.
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History and pretty amber, I really enjoyed reading about your time in Gdansk. I’d really love to visit the Solidarity centre. More so now, that atrium is lovely!
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Thanks so much for your interest and comments on Gdańsk, I’m sure you would enjoy spending a few days in this beautiful,Polish city Helen.
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