TOUR D - GDAŃSK CITY OF SOLIDARITY
Excursions
- £30 - £40
- 5 hours
- Moderate
This tour will not only give us the chance to see the city of Gdańsk, but also the Museum dedicated to the Solidarity movement founded there.
After approximately one hours drive we will see the Solidarity Monument – a memorial to the shipyard workers killed in riots in 1970, and a symbol of the fight for freedom. This striking monument is 42 metres (137 feet) high and is composed of three crosses with anchors representing faith and hope.
We shall now visit the Solidarity Museum, which opened on the 20th anniversary of the 1980 shipyard strikes. It traces the history of the Solidarity Movement and Poland’s struggle with communism. Our guided visit will include The 'Roads to Freedom' multimedia exhibit. Outside we will see the wall Lech Walesa climbed to lead the shipyard workers and a section of the Berlin Wall. There is also an armoured tank used to stop demonstrations. Inside elaborate dioramas and displays recreate life from the hard times of the 1980’s – the bare cupboards and empty shop shelves with only lard and vinegar. Slide shows and crackling film reels tell the stories of the political uprisings and martial law. The demands of the August 1980 shipyard strike, hand written on boards and included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, are also on display along with letters of support from all over the world. It is sure to make a strong impression on us.
Continuing by coach to Gdansk Old Town, our guided walk will start near the Golden Gate – a grand ornamental arch that once allowed access through the medieval city’s defensive walls. We will then continue down Long Street, which is lined with marvellous buildings decorated with elaborate façades and crowned by a myriad of ornate gables. Passing the Gothic-style Town Hall and Long Market, we then see the beautiful 15th century merchants’ palace of Artus Court. We pause at Neptune’s Fountain to admire this monumental symbol of Gdansk’s Hanseatic past. Next we turn into the cobbled Mariacka (St Mary’s) Street, which delights visitors with its lively atmosphere, quaint shops, swish boutiques, jewellery shops and galleries.
Here we can visit St Mary’s Church, or Church of Our Lady – possibly the largest brick built church in the world, capable of holding up to 25,000 people. Situated in the centre of the Old Town, this medieval church took 159 years to build, and its deceivingly plain exterior belies a bright, spacious interior with large windows and more than 30 beautifully decorated chapels. The high altar displays a lovely polyptych, the floor is covered with ancient tombstones and the northern transept holds an amazing 15th century astronomical clock complete with the zodiac cycle and a calendar of the saints.
TOUR NOTES: This tour is not suitable for passengers with limited mobility – it involves walking and steps at the Solidarity Museum and approximately two and a half kilometres (one and a half miles) of walking in Gdansk. The route actually followed may vary from that described. There are a few steps to negotiate and cobblestones in Mariacka Street. We should have a little free time, approximately 30 minutes, in the Old Town of Gdansk.
DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR THE 2011 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC SEASON
Snack or meal provided
Refreshments available
Free time
Shopping opportunity
Wheelchair access
Swimming opportunity
All prices are based on operating costs, tariffs and rates of exchange and are subject to change without notice.
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