gdansk
the big harbour city
This old town is at the Balitic Sea and has the biggest harbour of the country. The old town is really cosy. If you are in to art the city has the largest painting by Memling. Hostorically the city is known for its uprising against the communistical system and as the city Hitler never should hae tried to attack - World War 2 started becourse of this.
The crane
The Wide Gate (The water gates of the Main Town) already existed in 1363 and from 1367 the Latin mention of the crane caranum is preserved.
At present, the crane was built between 1442-1444. It served primarily as a device port for loading of goods (mostly beer) and ballast on ships and putting their masts. The device was able to lift the weight of four tons to a height of eleven meters. The mechanism has two drums with a diameter of about six meters. As the driving force people used their feet inside these drums. The crane was set on fire in 1945, when the city was won by the Red Army. The walls surrounding the wooden structure survived. After World War II the wooden part was reconstructed. |
Glowny
The representative and spacious Main Railway Station was built between 1894-1900, in the so-called "Gdansk Renaissance" style. The designers of the complex were Alexander Rundel, Paul Thomer and Georg Cuny. It is a cluster of eclectic forms of Renaissance and Baroque. Building the train and tower were built of brick and richly decorated with sandstone from Wartkowice. In October 28, 1900 was opened the main part, the so-called. Empfangsgebäude; the whole opening ceremony took place on 30 October 1900. The tower with a height of 50 m (with clock) was built in 1900-1903. Served hidden function, blended in buildings tower until electrification railway.
The system then train responsible latest developments and requirements. It equipped with a large hall reception area with cash, luggage storage, telephone booths, telegraph office, police station, waiting room for classes I and II, and separately for classes III and IV, a sink, a toilet for men and women and a restaurant. In 1945, he was set on fire, and after World War II restored. The tower escaped the burning. |
green gate
With the Golden Gate and the Highland Gate, the Green Gate spans the Long Market and Long Street, together comprising the Royal Route. The Green Gate was clearly inspired by the Antwerp City Hall. It was built 1568-71 as the formal residence of Poland's monarchs (though never used as such). It is a masterpiece by Regnier (or Reiner van Amsterdam), an Amsterdam architect, and reflects Flemish architectural influence in Gdańsk. Hans Kramer from Dresden was responsible for the construction plans.
On 11-20 February 1646 the future Queen of Poland, Marie Louise Gonzaga, was entertained here. In the late 18th century the Nature Society was housed here, but soon moved to the Naturalists' House (Research Society House). Today the Green Gate houses the National Museum in Gdańsk. Exhibitions, meetings, conferences and shows are held here. The Gdańsk office of former Polish President Lech Wałęsa is located in one of the rooms. |
long market
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Established in about 13th century, initially as a merchant road leading to the oval market place. Soon after bloody takeover of Gdańsk by Teutonic Knights, known as the Gdańsk slaughter, the street become the city's main artery. Its official name in Latin Longa Platea was first written in 1331, German name Langgasse was introduced later and Polish Ulica Długa in 1552. Before the Partitions of Poland it was also called the Royal Route because it served as a road of solemn entrances into the city during the visitations by Polish monarchs. The latter name was popularized between 1457-1552. During the monarchs' visits to the city they were entertained in the tenement houses along the route and during the feasts of the Royal family the city council arrange fireworks here. The street was inhabited by the most prominent and the most wealthy citizens of the Royal City of Gdańsk. It was also a place of executions of witches, heretics and criminals that were nobles or city's citizens. The others were executed on Galgenberg/Szubieniczna Góra (Gallows Mountain) or in Peinkammertor/Katownia (Torture chamber).
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St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church (Polish: Bazylika Mariacka), or formally the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Polish: Bazylika Mariacka Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny w Gdańsku). Its construction began in 1379. With its volume of 155,000 m³ is a Roman Catholic church, and is currently the third largest brick church in the world, and the second largest north of the Alps. Only San Petronio Basilica in Bologna, comprising 258,000 m³, and Frauenkirche in Munich with 217,000 m³ are larger.
Between 1536 and 1572 St. Mary's Church was used for Roman Catholic and Lutheran services alike. From the 16th century until 1945, when the Germanic Danzig became the Polish Gdańsk, it was the second largest Lutheran church in the world. It is 105.5 metres (346 ft) long, and the nave is 66 metres (217 ft) wide. Inside the church is room for 25,000 people. It is an aisled hall church with a transept. St. Mary's Church is a triple-aisled hall church with a triple-aisled transept. Both the transept and the main nave are of similar width and height, which is a good example of late gothical style. The exterior is dominated by plain brick plains and high and narrow gothical arch windows. Such construction was possible due to placing corbels and buttresses inside of the church and erecting chapels between them. Gables are divided by a set of brick pinnacles. All corners are accentuated by turrets crowned by with metal headpieces (reconstructed after 1970). The vaulting is a true piece of art, and was in great part restored after the war. Main aisle, transept and presbytery are covered by net vaults, while the side aisles are covered by crystal vaults.The roof is covered with more than 8000m² of red ceramic tiles. The ceiling vaults – net, stellar and crystal vaults are stretched nearly 30m above the floor and are supported by 27 pillars. The massive tower, clearly visible on the City’s landscape is around 80m high. |
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