The city of Gdansk is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The city’s founding goes back to the 10th century and the reign of Miezsko I. Gdansk has been a witness to nearly all significant events in Polish history and even became a warzone during World War II. Aside from its history, the city of Gdansk is also famous for its vividly colored houses.
One of the oldest buildings in Gdansk is the St. Mary’s Church. The church’s construction started in the mid-14th century and lasted until the 16th century. Moreover, the church is the largest brick church in Europe and can support up to 25,000 visitors.
They also say that the church has more red bricks than any other church on the continent as well. Although the church’s façade is red, the exterior of the church is fully white aside from the floor. The church is full of mosaics, paintings, and historical records dating back to the time of its first congregation.
The city of Gdansk has also been home to tragedy and destruction of war. After WW1, Gdansk was a sovereign state called the Free City of Danzig, which was what the Germans called Gdansk. However, in 1939, Nazi Germany wanted Danzig back, so they invaded the city which was the start of WWII. In other words, Gdansk was the starting place of the most destructive war the world has ever seen.
The Nazi attack began on September 1 and it was swift and ruthless. In a short while, the Nazis cornered the Polish soldiers on the island of Westerplatte. The few soldiers on the island defended Gdansk for more than one week which even surprised the Nazi commanders. This story of Polish resistance has been one of the most important events for the Polish people since then.
Aside from the historical importance of the city, Gdansk is full of colorful houses. These houses are examples of picturesque architecture in which the building forms fit into the natural landscape. The rows of closely-knit colorful houses stretch along for many streets and squares.
Most of the houses were damaged during WWII in battles and aerial bombardment. The Polish government then renovated the houses that form an important part of Gdansk’s identity. Moreover, the houses also attract the most tourists to the city.
Whether it’s its history, churches, port, or colorful houses, the city of Gdansk remains one of the most important cities in Poland. While the city has a population of more than 500,000, thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the city in order to experience the beautiful architecture and tragic yet valiant history.
