Gdańsk is the Polish maritime capital with the population nearing half a million.It is the part of TriCity(Gdansk Gdynia Sopot) and is the third biggest aglomeration in Poland (nearly 1mln people) It is a large centre of economic life, science, culture, and a popular tourist destination. Lying on the Bay of Gdańsk and the southern cost of the Baltic Sea the city is a thousand years old. With its Hanseatic tradition, it has for ages played a major role in the commercial relationships between Northern and Western Europe on the one hand, and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe on the other hand. Today, Gdańsk is the capital of the Pomeranian province and an important administration centre.

The city was totaly destroyed during the war,and Poles managed to rebuild this to its previous splendor, it was the biggest reconstruction of historical city ever taken all over the world
So what do you think?

http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/54/50_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/54/44_file.jpg
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http://www.wiezowce.bajo.pl/inne/gdansknoc2.jpg
http://www.poczta-polska.pl/mw/o/4_Gdansk_045.jpg
http://www.poczta-polska.pl/mw/o/4_Gdansk_056.jpg
http://imggal.trojmiasto.pl/zdj/arch/0/z71.jpg
http://www.startbilder.de/einzelbild.php?id=206986&quality=80&maxpixel=800&identifier=7173ae30d6
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http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/64/48_file.jpg
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Holy crap, that was amazing....They did a great job restoring the city, thank god....I had no idea is was so beautifull. Im booking my ticket right now...

I love this building! Any info???

http://www.startbilder.de/einzelbild.php?id=206999&quality=80&maxpixel=800&identifier=f5f6158d0b

Also, a nice photograph by 'ThreeLibras'

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/canadawater/Gdansk_I_.jpg

WOW !!!!!!!!!! GDANSK IS UNBELIEVABLE ! Polish cities are a million times better than any Scandi / Baltic ones. I will have to visit there soon ! :okay:

^^^
hm hmm, I would't quite agree that Polish cities are million times better than e.g. Vilnius but perhaps there are some nicer ones like Krakow :)

^^^
hm hmm, I would't quite agree that Polish cities are million times better than e.g. Vilnius but perhaps there are some nicer ones like Krakow :)

Well the biggest economical cities here are Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo & Copenhagen but in terms of architecture my fave is Gdansk !

Helsinki & Copenhagen have the best modern architecture!

Tallinn & Vilnius are the skyscraper capitals. :)

Btw. I imagine that Poles in their forum have ranked the importance of their cities. Which is Gdansk - No2 (after Warsaw) or No3 (after Warsaw and Krakow) or different???
This has been very very wise investment when rebuilding Gdansk. Especially comparing what the other world built in 1960ies-1970ies.

Btw. I imagine that Poles in their forum have ranked the importance of their cities. Which is Gdansk - No2 (after Warsaw) or No3 (after Warsaw and Krakow) or different???
This has been very very wise investment when rebuilding Gdansk. Especially comparing what the other world built in 1960ies-1970ies.


I would say that Tricity (Gdansk - Gdynia- Sopot) is on third palce it terms of importance (I mean economic importance, cultural value etc.) after Warsaw and Krakow, but it's not so easy to say becouse... there are other cities with similar importance:

Wroclaw (in my opinion the most dynamic Polish city except of Warsaw),

Poznan (second biggest finance center of Poland after Warsaw),

Lodz (second biggest city in Poland),

Katowice (center of the biggest Polish agglomeration)

Some latest photos of 'Gdansk by night' by @msweb :

http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/1.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/2.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/3.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/4.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/5.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/6.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/7.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/8.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/9.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/10.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/11.jpg

^^^
hm hmm, I would't quite agree that Polish cities are million times better than e.g. Vilnius but perhaps there are some nicer ones like Krakow :)

I think that Riga is the nicest one from Balt Countries, Vilnius looks boring and very ordinary to me, it cant even compete with Krakow or Gdansk in terms of architecture

@delfin

some say that Paris is boring, different tastes, different attitudes :)

@delfin

some say that Paris is boring, different tastes, different attitudes :)

well Paris is a different class of city, and I think its a bit more interesting :) Vilnius looks rather like a bigger town, its nice but nth spectacular like for example Gdansk's Main Town

I think that Riga is the nicest one from Balt Countries, Vilnius looks boring and very ordinary to me, it cant even compete with Krakow or Gdansk in terms of architecture

have you ever been there??? (in Vilnius)

have you ever been there???

I visited Vilnius, Riga and Talinn year ago, and I loved Riga but I was disapointed with Vilnius

I think that Riga is the nicest one from Balt Countries, Vilnius looks boring and very ordinary to me, it cant even compete with Krakow or Gdansk in terms of architecture

Gdansk was at one time the biggest and the richest city in the region - the most powerfull city in Rzeczpospolita and You can see it also today in it's old architecture.

Unfortuanatelly since the city was in Prussian hands it's decline has started and II World War was disaster for Gdansk.... :(

Fortunatelly big part of the city was rebuild, but there are still some areas that needs revitalization.

I hope huge 'Synergia' project is going to be realized + ING project + Wyspa Spichrzow - than Gdansk would have lots of interesting, very modern architecture, and the city would be extremly interesting and beautiful.

Great advantage of Vilnius is that it survived during the war and of course the fact that it's the capital.

I agree with @John - it depend on taste :cheers:

I visited Vilnius, Riga and Talinn year ago, and I loved Riga but I was disapointed with Vilnius


I think you are exaggeretinn, but I still appreciate you opinion. It is individual case of each man. For instance I was in Vilnius 3 - 4 years ago , and I like it . esspecially amazing location and mix of old architecture with parks.

I'm not saying that I didnt like it, I did like it but I thought it would be so magnificient like Krakow but it wasnt as beautiful, but Riga made a huge impression, it's breathtaking
Anyway its a thread about Gdansk, one more shot
http://69.56.199.195/prace/download/34074.jpg

I visited the beautiful city of Krakow many years ago, and wow, Gdansk looks even nicer! :)

I visited the beautiful city of Krakow many years ago, and wow, Gdansk looks even nicer! :)

I really hope that in the near future Gdansk would be put on UNESCO list :cheers:

Adavantage of Krakow is that it's "complete" city- now all You have to do is to renovate the historic buildings.

Gdansk (like Warsaw) was destroyed, so it's still in many places "under construction".
There are some very ambitious plans of urban development in Gdansk, I cross my fingers they won't stay only on paper :cheers:

Gdansk looks very beautiful in these pics!

@delfin_pl: You was disapointed by Vilnius and I was disapointed by Krakow :) (I was there 4 years ago). In my opinion Krakow does not deserve all those good words which were and are being written on these forums.

@DocentX: Actually Vilnius lost many things during the wars (not only the wars). Just look at these pictures:
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/5011/makovskis_1600_fragmentas.jpg

http://img16.exs.cx/img16/7282/vldr90612.jpg


Edit:

@designwise: Do you really think of Vilnius as a city which has a few skyscrapers and nothing more? If yes, then you should visit this thread:link (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=118076). And the first line in that thread already says that "Vilnius is famous for its old town (not skyscrapers..." :).

@delfin_pl: You was disapointed by Vilnius and I was disapointed by Krakow :) (I was there 4 years ago). In my opinion Krakow does not deserve all those good words which were and are being written on these forums.



Everyone has right to it's own opinion :cheers:

BTW it would be interesting to create some day "Krakow vs. Vilnius" thread :)

^^^
I don't think it would work because Poles would vote for Krakow while Lithuanians would go for Vilnius while other just would base their opinion on the number of pictures seen in the forum or on our "propaganda" posted here ;)

But that's always like this with these city_vs_city threads...

I never said that Vilnius is only famous for it's skyscrapers. I know that Vilnius has the biggest old town in the Scandi/Baltic region.

Ok lets start this thread Vilnius vs Krakow on the Eastern Europe Forum

some more pics of Gdansk

http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/68/75_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/68/78_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/69/08_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/69/18_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/68/81_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/68/80_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/69/14_file.jpg
http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_b/69/12_file.jpg

ING project for GDANSK :

http://www.ingrealestate.com/images/48_11636.jpg http://www.ingrealestate.com/images/48_10802.jpg http://www.ingrealestate.com/images/48_15505.jpg

proposals for 'Wyspa Spichrzow' :

http://bi.gazeta.pl//im/2226/z2226639G.jpg http://bi.gazeta.pl//im/2226/z2226639G.jpg

http://www.trojmiasto.pl/obiekty/news/8200/z8279.jpg
http://www.wm.com.pl/biuro/OPIS/P&R/wyspa/wyspa-zlotuptaka1.jpg http://www.wm.com.pl/biuro/OPIS/P&R/wyspa/wyspa-sylweta1.jpg http://www.wm.com.pl/biuro/OPIS/P&R/wyspa/wyspa-wnetrze1.jpg http://www.wm.com.pl/biuro/OPIS/P&R/wyspa/wyspa-wnetrze2.jpg

Interestin article about huge SYNERGIA project in Gdansk:

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS TO USE OPIC LOAN TO DEVELOP HISTORIC GDANSK SHIPYARD

Will preserve Solidarity monuments; largest urban renewal project in Europe

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Financing from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) will enable a U.S. small business to undertake the development of a downtown hub in the former Gdansk shipyard in Poland, including preservation of key monuments to the Solidarity Movement and its role in introducing democracy to the country, OPIC President and CEO Dr. Peter Watson announced today.

The undertaking is the largest urban renewal project currently underway in Europe.

OPIC will provide a $10 million loan to Synergia, a company sponsored by an OPIC-supported investment fund, Emerging Europe Fund for Sustainable Development, and its parallel U.S. fund, Emerging Europe Fund II, for the development of a business and cultural center, including housing, on 181 acres of the former Gdansk shipyard in central Gdansk, a major Polish city that lacks a downtown hub.
The project will ensure the preservation of key Solidarity buildings and monuments, as well as the environmental remediation of a former heavy industrial site, while ensuring continued productive use of the slipway area by the shipyard.

Furthermore, upon the approval of the master plan by the City of Gdansk, it is the project sponsors’ intention to exchange with the City of Gdansk land designated for public use, including historical sites such as Solidarity Square, a central public passageway entitled “Walk of Freedom” following the original path of the Solidarity Union shipyard workers, and a Center for Democracy to be used as an international diplomatic meetinghouse. Also upon approval of the master plan, the sponsors’ intention is to donate the site of the famous BHP Hall, which is now a museum commemorating the sacrifice and success of the Solidarity movement.

“OPIC is pleased to work with a U.S. small business on a project which offers so much for Poland’s economic development and historical preservation,” Dr. Watson said. “By helping to introduce a downtown area to Gdansk, which currently lacks a central place where people may shop, reside or enjoy leisure activities, and by preserving the important historical significance of the Solidarity monuments, this project provides unique and intangible benefits that go beyond the norm.”

great thread!
as tas nuotraukas gal po desimt kartu mates, visas forumas ju nuotraukomis apkrautas.. ir vis jiem negana...

Old part of Gdansk is still beeing rebuild:

some new "old" houses :

http://www.gdansk.pl/gdansk/files/img_m/71/48_file.jpg http://bi.gazeta.pl//im/2136/z2136455G.jpg

http://inet.megawap.net/felix/Image(422).jpg http://inet.megawap.net/felix/Image(419).jpg http://inet.megawap.net/felix/Image(417).jpg http://inet.megawap.net/felix/Image(415).jpg http://inet.megawap.net/felix/Image(411).jpg

Day time photos by @msweb :

http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b1.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b2.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b3.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b4.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b5.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b6.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b7.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b8.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b9.jpg http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b10.jpg
http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b12.jpg


my favorite :cheers:

http://nationframe.com/misc/gdansk/b11.jpg

Those old german buildings looks nice in pictures. But I visited Germany and Mosuria in Poland (which was part of Ost Preussen) this summer and noticed that I start to hate them when looking at them for more than a few hours ;) I'm not sure is it only me, or maybe that brick architecture can be depressing sometimes :dunno:

Those old german buildings looks nice in pictures. But I visited Germany and Mosuria in Poland (which was part of Ost Preussen) this summer and noticed that I start to hate them when looking at them for more than a few hours ;) I'm not sure is it only me, or maybe that brick architecture can be depressing sometimes :dunno:

These are not old German buildings.

Gdansk was German only for some small part of history- and in fact it was disaster for the city.

Red brick architecture was basically the only defensive type of architecture that the Teutonic Knights used in the middle ages. It looks weird when they are the only buildings around. Keep in mind that the Teutonic Knights lived there for only few centuries so those buildings appeared out of nowhere and were not surrounded by buildings from other eras. Gdansk looks superb because some earlier Polish and later Teutonic gothic are surrounded by fantastic town houses and, reneissance and baroque so beloved in the golden ages of Poland. Krakow, Plock, Poznan, Warsaw, Kalisz or Gniezno also look superb because the same red brick architecture (although from an earlier period) is surrounded by reneissance or baroque. I can understand why looking at red brick castles in the middle of nowhere in Masuria can be boring after a while.

Old City.
http://plfoto.com/zdjecia/406694.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h1.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h2.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h3.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h4.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h5.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h6.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h7.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h8.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h9.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/h10.jpg

Other part of Gdansk called Wrzeszcz
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i1.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i2.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i3.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i4.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i5.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i6.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i7.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i8.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i9.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i10.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i11.jpg
http://100tka.net/~dziki/Gdansk/i12.jpg

These are not old German buildings.

Gdansk was German only for some small part of history- and in fact it was disaster for the city.

But most of inhabitants of Gdansk were germans for ages.
Polish knights invited german merchants, craftsmen and later even Teutonic knights themselves (they were afraid of their pagan neighbours - prussians).
Of course the first thing german knights did was to overthrow polish knights and form their own state :)

Tomas clarification is in order. The Teutonic Knights were invited to POLAND for 2 reasons - deal with Brandenburgs and deal with Prussians. They were given some estates by the Polish Kingdom (after being kicked out of Hungary). In 1308 Teutons attacked Gdansk and murdered all of its inhabitants (they tried to expand to new lands). They took over the city for 100 years and started construction on several churches. They were never finished during their short reign. After 13th years war between Poland and the Teutonic Realm Polish forces together with inhabitants of Gdansk kicked the Teutons out. Gdansk was free once again. Construction on those montrosities lasted another 100 years and churches were finished. Thanks to liberal laws in Poland many foreigners began to migrate to Gdansk. It was an open minded city, very business oriented and with low taxes. Poland was a breadbasket of Europe and all of Polish grain went through Gdansk. All amber as well. Gdansk became a super city during the golden ages (that's what we refer to in Poland - "zloty wiek"). It became a crown city (status equal to Krakow, hence the crown in its coat of arms) and prospered until the partitions of Rzeczpospolita. After the partitions Prussia took over Gdansk for some time and introduced a mass immigration of German colonists. Prior to the partitions Gdansk was a multicultural city (like many others in Poland) with a Polish majority but with a large minority of Scots, Dutch, Germans and others. Gdansk under Prussians fell in total despair and lost its status as a gateway to the Baltic and its lucrative trade routes as Poland no longer existed.

We all know what happened in WWII. City was wiped out. Those 2 things - partitions and WWII are still affecting Gdansk to this day. It is trying to re-establish itself as THE PORT linking northern and southern Europe and it is trying to rebuilt itself after WWII destruction.

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00749v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00751v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00750v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00754v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00753v.jpg

Jacek - thank you for clarification. Some facts were new to me.

BTW Gdansk lost it's significance not because of Prussian anection. It was time when farming in Europe became less important and industry was developing rapidly. As Gdansk was mostly used for grain export it lost it's positions to other seaports (like Hamburg and Stettin). Later Gdansk recovered as strong seaport with strong shipbuilding industry. And I believe it's doing OK now :)

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00749v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00751v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00750v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00754v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/00700/00753v.jpg


Great Polish City!

But most of inhabitants of Gdansk were germans for ages.
Polish knights invited german merchants, craftsmen and later even Teutonic knights themselves (they were afraid of their pagan neighbours - prussians).
Of course the first thing german knights did was to overthrow polish knights and form their own state :)

Tomas - noone in Poland denies the great importance of German inhabitants, who helped to build this great city, but as @Jacek said it was throught the centuries multicultural city, which beloged to Poland and thanx to this fact it could developed (it was the main port of huge Rzeczpospolita).

The architecture of Main Town itself is mostly influenced by Dutch architecture (is similar to Amsterdam).

If even those facts dosen't convince You- remeber that the city was destroyed in over 80% and the Main Town looks so beautiful becouse of the huge reconstruction works of Polish specialists.

Next time show more respect and less of German ignorance and arogance.

Great Polish City!

I didn't mean to imply that it was a German city. :D

^^^
but it was German city in those times wasn't it? :)

Article from Britannica Encyclopedia

Gdansk

German Danzig, city, capital of Gdańsk województwo (province), north central Poland, situated at the mouth of the Vistula River on the Baltic Sea.

First mentioned as a Polish city in 997 or 999, Gdańsk was part of the Polish diocese of Włocławek as noted in a papal bull of 1148. It was granted municipal autonomy in 1260 and developed as a trade centre. In 1308 the Teutonic Knights seized the city, which they held until 1466, when King Casimir IV of Poland regained the territory after a 13-year war. Granted localautonomy by the king in gratitude for its loyalty, Gdańsk expanded greatly, reaching its peak during the Renaissance as the most prosperousport on the Baltic. By 1754 it had the largest population (77,000) of any eastern European city and annual grain exports of more than 200,000 tons.

The Swedish wars of the 17th century halted the city's economic growth and began its decline. In 1772 Gdańsk was seized by Prussia, resulting in a rapid dissolution of port trade; and in 1793 it was incorporated as part of Prussia. Napoleon granted it the privileges of a free city in 1807, but its territorial separation from Poland, becauseof the existence of a Prussian corridor to the sea, ruined its economy. Gdańsk appealed for reunification with Poland (1813–14); but when the Congress of Vienna instead partitioned Poland among Russia, Austria, and Prussia, the city was relegated to the province of West Prussia. Gdańsk became somewhat industrialized but failed to regain its stature as a great Baltic trading port.

From 1919 to 1939 it again had the status of a free city, under the Treaty of Versailles, with Poland having administrative governance over it. The Gdańsk legislative assembly, however, which was of German composition, tended to antagonize the Polish overseer whenever possible. Poland finally built another port on Polish territory at Gdynia, 10 miles (16 km) to the north. Gdynia grew rapidly, and Gdańsk also flourished. German control of the city grew stronger as the German National Socialist (Nazi) Party won a majority of the assembly seats in the 1933 and 1935 elections. In 1938 Hitler demanded that Gdańsk be given to Germany; Poland's refusal was used by Germany as provocation for its attack on Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, which precipitated World War II.

The city was greatly damaged during the war and was returned to Poland in March 1945. Now fully reconstructed, it counts among its restored buildings St. Catherine's Church, sections of which date from the 14th century, and the medieval town hall. As Danzig it was the childhood home of the contemporary German writer Günter Grass, several of whose novels were set in the locality.

The city centre, known as Stare Miasto (“Old Town”), lies on the Motława, a tributary of the Vistula, 2 miles (3 km) inland. The city has two main port areas. The older Nowy Port (“New Port”) is a major industrial centre for shipyards, metallurgical and chemical plants, timber mills, and food-processing facilities. The Polish maritime commission was first begun there in 1568 to handle questions of defense and trade. The shipyards launched their first warship in 1572. In modern times, shipbuilding there has been an important source of foreign currency. Labour unrest in the Gdańsk shipyards in 1980 led to the creation of the Solidarity union. The newer Port Połnocny (“North Port”) is Poland's largest maritime development project (its first stage completed in 1975); it handles coal exports and petroleum imports, much of the latter being processed at a nearby refinery.

Gdańsk is an important cultural seat containing schools of medicine, engineering, and fine arts; a maritime centre; many fine churches, museums, theatres, and gardens; and a concert hall and an opera house. The University of Gdańsk was founded in 1970. Gdańsk is part of the Trójmiasto (“Three-City”) urban area, comprising the towns of Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot. Pop. (1991 est.) 465,400.

^^^
but it was German city in those times wasn't it? :)

You said it, not me. :D

And yes, back then it was a German city and I guess it owes much of its beauty to its German/Prussian past. And now I'm awaiting Polish responses. ;)

You said it, not me. :D

And yes, back then it was a German city and I guess it owes much of its beauty to its German/Prussian past. And now I'm awaiting Polish responses. ;)

This is the beauty of Your Prussian past :

http://www.sabaoth.infoserve.pl/danzig-online/1945.jpg

This is what You Germans done to many of "Your" cities...

Hey, no need to start another WW2 discussion. They get quite boring after a while. Poles did a great job of rebuilding the city, if it was still German, it would look horrible. Happy now? :D

And don't diss Prussia!

Hey, no need to start another WW2 discussion. They get quite boring after a while.

I agree

This is the beauty of Your Prussian past :

http://www.sabaoth.infoserve.pl/danzig-online/1945.jpg

This is what You Germans done to many of "Your" cities...

@DocentX

the city was destoyed in 1945 by Russians not by Germans

@DocentX

the city was destoyed in 1945 by Russians not by Germans

Of course I know, but this was the consequence of war started by Germans.

In fact I think it was absolutely barbarian to use artilery while capturing Gdansk...

You said it, not me. :D

And yes, back then it was a German city and I guess it owes much of its beauty to its German/Prussian past. And now I'm awaiting Polish responses. ;)

Almost all the most beautiful buildings in Gdansk were built before XIX c. And its golden age is connected to Poland.
1687
http://www.bg.univ.gda.pl/i/cym_rycina1.png http://www.bg.univ.gda.pl/i/cym_rycina2.png

1617
http://www.bg.univ.gda.pl/i/cym_rycina3.png
http://www.bg.univ.gda.pl/i/cym_rycina4.png

Nothing strange that Danzingers "voted" for Poland in 1772 and 1813.

@Jacek: Your short history of Gdansk sounds a little bit too black and white for me. Therefor let me add some color to the picture.

In 1308 Teutons attacked Gdansk and murdered all of its inhabitants (they tried to expand to new lands).

Your usage of the word "Teutons" could be misinterpreted as meaning "the Germans" and "inhabitants" could be misinterpreted as "Poles". Reality was more complex: the "German" March of Brandenburg and "Polish" Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek had a personal dispute over Gdanks in the course of which Brandenburg occupied Gdanks. Wladyslaw then called the church in form of the Teutonic Order to help him reclaim Gdansk from the Brandenburgians. The Teutonic order did indeed as told and successfully reclaimed the city and drove out the Brandenburgians but afterwards the order obviously decided to keep it for itself. So we don't have nations or ethnicities here fighting against each others but two royals and a religious order.

http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/graduate/rsszulga/1298-1370.htm

"1308 - Seizure of Gdansk by the March of Brandenburg. Lokietek hired the Teutonic Knights to retake the city. The Knights however, after driving out the Brandenburgians seized the city for themselves. The result was that Gdansk remained closed to Polish trade roughly until the Peace of Torun (Thorn)"


Thanks to liberal laws in Poland many foreigners began to migrate to Gdansk. It was an open minded city, very business oriented and with low taxes. Poland was a breadbasket of Europe and all of Polish grain went through Gdansk. All amber as well. Gdansk became a super city during the golden ages (that's what we refer to in Poland - "zloty wiek"). It became a crown city (status equal to Krakow, hence the crown in its coat of arms) and prospered until the partitions of Rzeczpospolita. After the partitions Prussia took over Gdansk for some time and introduced a mass immigration of German colonists. Prior to the partitions Gdansk was a multicultural city (like many others in Poland) with a Polish majority but with a large minority of Scots, Dutch, Germans and others. Gdansk under Prussians fell in total despair and lost its status as a gateway to the Baltic and its lucrative trade routes as Poland no longer existed.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Danzig.html

"The local tradition of intolerance continued during the period of Polish rule over Danzig (1454-1793). Danzig received a semi-autonomous status which included, among other privileges, the authority to refuse citizenship rights and trading rights to foreigners, whether Nurembergers, Lombards, Englishmen, Flemings or Jews.2 Thus, although the kings of Poland granted extensive rights to Jews, these rights did not apply in Danzig. At best, Jews could enter the city for a few days to trade during the major fairs in August and November .3 Even this fairly standard break from the normally exclusivist economic policies of medieval cities was granted only grudgingly to Jewish merchants by the city fathers of Danzig; indeed, they made several attempts to curtail the entrance of Jews into the city. In the 16th century, under pressure from local storekeepers, Jews were forbidden to engage in retail trade within the city limits.4 When Jews began to remain in town after the fair and on occasion even carried on regular prayer services, the city council took action to expel all those who had stayed (1616)."

"From the late 17th century and on into the 18th, Danzig entered a period of decline due to the political decline of the Polish state and the interruptions of Baltic trade caused by the Swedish wars. 12 These economic reverses intensified the intolerant attitudes of Danzig Citizens towards religious dissenters and Jews, particularly since these groups often competed with local artisans' and merchants. This helps explain the increased restrictions against Jews in this period, as attested. by local ordinances of 1719, 1740, 1745, 1752, 1763 and others. Jews could stay for limited sojourns, and only with a special pass issued by the Danzig authorities at a price proportionate to the length of the stay and the stature of the individual.13 For example, the 1752 law stipulated a 12-florin tax for a month-Ion stay by a Jewish merchant, an 8-florin tax for an assistant, and a 4-florin tax for a servant."

Of course I know, but this was the consequence of war started by Germans.


started by Germans AND Soviets.

docentx, i read It was bavarian to use artillery :) so i laughed a lil... bavarians are so popular nowadays

@Jacek: Your short history of Gdansk sounds a little bit too black and white for me. Therefor let me add some color to the picture.

Your usage of the word "Teutons" could be misinterpreted as meaning "the Germans" and "inhabitants" could be misinterpreted as "Poles".@Mike, it's historical fact. If you want to misinterpret - it's your decission.

I was yesterday in Gdansk and I took few photos .
Kanal Raduni:
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304233628.jpg

Targ i Stare miasto:
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304265312.jpg

Motlawa:
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304275847.jpg

Zuraw
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304285138.jpg

Motlawa:
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304293481.jpg

Dlugi Targ
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304302721.jpg

Stare miasto:
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304312196.jpg

Dluga str.
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304320824.jpg

;)
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304332722.jpg

Dluga str. B&W
http://www.free-image-hosting.org/8/24304351710.jpg

Interesting, the architecture there seems to have a strong Amsterdam type of look or influence.

By the way, it's a shame that the Soviets and Germans had to exist. I mean, had to start that stupid war. I feel bad for Poland, you guys just had it bad. But good think you are flourishing under no rule anymore and seem to be doing fantastic...I mean look that city is beautiful!

Outstanding city!!!!

I like this polish city very much

Daaaaaang! That where some kick ass photos! :D