Travels – Page 10 – Arkadiusz Paliński

Westerplatte

8 September 201810 May 2021

Westerplatte is a penisula in northern part of Gdańsk formed in years 1845-1847. After first world war Gdańsk and surrounding areas became “Wolne Miasto Gdańsk” (“Free City of Danzig”) which was de facto controlled by Germans. Poland had guaranteed to have in control Westerplatte area and to maintain military outpost. Poland fortified the area and created ammunition depot.

The area is free, you just have to buy tickets for the guardhouse. Ticket prices:

Normal price 8 zł, reduced 4 zł.

You can also buy 90 day pass to all eight branches of Gdańsk municipal museums, normal price 80 zł, reduced 50 zł.

See https://muzeumgdansk.pl/index.php?id=362&L=1 for up to date information.

Few days before the war, german battleship Schleswig-Holstein entered the harbor under peaceful intention, in reality boarding marine assault company ready to fight. 1st of September 1939 at 4:45 in the morning it begun firing at Westerplatte beginning Second World War.

Polish garnison at Westerplatte was well fortified, it consisted of five small garnisons and few outposts. Garnison was defended by about 210 to 240 soldiers it was planned to defend for one day, but Polish garnison managed to defend against Germans (1500 Free City of Danzig policeman and 225 marines, later on also reinforced with more troops) for seven days. On seventh day, due to the fact that they had heavy losses, wounded needed to be taken to hospital, they were running critically low on supplies, help was not coming and germans had 20 times more troops, Polish garnison surrendered.

Westerplatte has become one of the symbols of Polish defence. Polish radio during the war every time in the morning was broadcasting that “Westerplatter broni się jeszcze” (“Westerplatte is still defending”).

After the war on Westerplatte a monument was raised to honor Defenders of Westerplatte

The sign says “Never more war”.

The monument of Coast Defenders (Pomnik Obrońców Wybrzeża). On monuments are written names of maritime places where polish soldiers fought.

Guardhouse number 1. Now it houses museum.

Ruins of barracks on Westerplatte.

St. Dominic’s Fair

5 September 20185 September 2018

St. Dominic’s Fair is a fair organized in Gdańsk since 1260 (it was interrupted by second world war and renewed in 1972). It always starts in end of July and lasts three weeks; during this time Gdańsk’s streets are much more crowded than usual. It is the largest open air trade event in Poland.

St. Dominic’s Fair is happening on the streets of historical city center, separated into areas of different themes (antique, clothes, food, manufacturers and jewellers etc.), each year it’s a little different.

Antique area.

CD’s are also antique…

Food area.

Tower Clock Museum

2 September 201822 April 2021

Tower Clock Museum is located in bell tower of St. Catherine Church, at 54°21’14″N 18°39’04″E.

In this museum you can see many clocks and clock mechanisms installed in varius towers. Mechanisms are shown to the public and everybody can see how they work.

Entry ticket to the Tower Clock Museum is 10 zł.

To enter the museum you need to go to a small entrance near main entrance to the church and go several dozens of small and narrow steps until you finally arrive at first floor of museum.

Clock with the longest pendulum in the world – 31,22 m. Of course not whole pendulum is shown, it stretches through few floors.

Second floor.

Third floor – there are no clocks in here, but on this floor is 50-bell carillon.

Top view on carillon.

Going higher takes you to the view point atop of St. Catherine’s Church bell tower.

Western view: building at the bottom of the picture is Wielki Młyn (Great mill), further to the west, covered partially by trees, is Old City Town Hall and left to him and little behind is St. Joseph Church. At the right side of the picture you can see Gdańsk Główny railway station.

Southern view: the most noticaable buildings in the center of the picture are market hall and just behind it St. Nicolaus Basilica. The tower next to them is Baszta Jacek a part od Gdańsk’s old fortifications. Behind church you can clearly see St. Mary’s Basilica, on the left side of the picture is St. John’s Church.

Eastern view: just behind the back of St. Catherine Church you can see St. Brigitte Basilica. Far left you can see cranes of the Gdańsk Shipyard.

Northern view: St. Catherine Church is located at the edge of Gdańsk’s historical city center and northern view is already outside of it. Buildings visible are Mercure hotel, Organica Trade office bulding and the green one in the distant is Zieleniak.

Artus Court

2 September 201810 May 2021

Artus Court (“Dwór Artusa” in polish) was the meeting place of merchants, center of Gdańsk’s social file, then stock exchange, now it is a museum. It’s located on Long Market (Długi Targ) in Gdańsk at 54°20’56″N 18°39’12″E.

Artus Court was also a meeting place to various brotherhoods, first only knights then also merchant brotherhoods. Sometimes also public court proceedings took place in Artus’ Court great hall.

Artus Court was damaged during second world war and today building and inside is partial reconstruction.

Ticket prices:

Normal price 16 zł, reduced 8 zł.

You can also buy 90 day pass to all eight branches of Gdańsk municipal museums, normal price 80 zł, reduced 50 zł.

On Wednesdays entrence is free. See https://muzeumgdansk.pl/index.php?id=362&L=1 for up to date information.

The interior is one big gothic hall. As Gdańsk is a harbour city, ships are often a motive for artist works.

Part of Artus Court museum is Nowy Dom Ławy, a courthouse.

Uphagen’s House

2 September 201810 May 2021

Uphagens House is 18th century house belonging to Johann Uphagen, a rich merchant who was also a member of Gdańsk’s city council. Now his house serves as a museum presenting how merchants lived during 18th century. One floor of the museum is dedicated to Gdańsk’s gardens.

It is located at Long Lane at 54°20’57″N 18°38’57″E.

Ticket prices:

Normal price 16 zł, reduced 8 zł.

You can also buy 90 day pass to all eight branches of Gdańsk municipal museums, normal price 80 zł, reduced 50 zł.

On Wednesdays entrence is free. See https://muzeumgdansk.pl/index.php?id=362&L=1 for up to date information.