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Gdynia (Gdansk), Poland
![]() Much of the city's industry centers around shipbuilding and shipping. The city has two main port areas. The older Nowy Port, or New Port, is a major industrial center for shipyards, metallurgical and chemical plants, timber mills, and food-processing facilities. The newer Port Polnocny, or North Port, is Poland's largest maritime development project. It handles coal exports and petroleum imports. Gdansk has schools of medicine, engineering, and fine arts. The University of Gdansk was opened in 1970. There are also many fine churches, museums, theaters, and gardens as well as a maritime center, a concert hall, and an opera house. Gdansk is part of the Trojmiasto, or Three-City, urban area, made up of the towns of Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot. The city center, known as Stare Miasto, or Old Town, lies on the Motlawa, a river that runs into the Vistula 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland. Noteworthy buildings in Old Town include St. Catherine's Church, sections of which date back to the 14th century. Its interior is in the Gothic style. The town hall was built between 1587 and 1595. The entrance hall has a bronze bas-relief of the 17th-century Gdansk astronomer Hevelius. Greatly damaged during World War II, the city's buildings were later restored. ![]() ![]() Main sights Neptune's Fountain in the center of the Long Market was first erected in 1549. Royal Chapel of the polish King - John III Sobieski was built in baroque style between 1678-1681.[22] The city has many fine buildings from the time of the Hanseatic League. Most tourist attractions are located along or near Ulica Długa (Long Street) and Długi Targ (Long Market), a pedestrian thoroughfare surrounded by buildings reconstructed in historical (primarily 17th century) style and flanked at both ends by elaborate city gates. This part of the city is sometimes referred to as the Royal Road as the former path of processions for visiting kings. Walking from end to end, sites encountered on or near the Royal Way include: * Upland Gate (Brama Wyżynna) * Torture House (Katownia) * Prison Tower (Wieża więzienna) * Golden Gate (Brama Złota) * Long Street (Ulica Długa) o Uphagen House (Dom Uphagena) o Main Town Hall (Ratusz Głównego Miasta) * Long Market (Długi Targ) o Arthur's Court (Dwór Artusa) o Neptune Fountain (Studnia Neptuna) o Golden House (Złota kamienica) * Green Gate (Brama Zielona) Gdańsk has a number of historical churches: * St. Bridget * St. Catherine * St. John * St Mary (Bazylika Mariacka), a municipal church built during the 15th century, is the largest brick church in the world. * St Nicholas' Church * Church of the Holy Trinity The museum ship SS Soldek is anchored on the Motława River. In the 16th century, Gdańsk hosted Shakespearean theatre on foreign tours, and the Danzig Research Society founded in 1743 was one of the first of its kind. Currently, there is a Fundation Theatrum Gedanensis aimed at rebuilding the Shakespeare theatre at its historical site. It is expected that Gdańsk will have a permanent English-language theatre, as at present it is only an annual event. TIP!
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