Things to see and do Pomerania

Malbork Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see in Pomerania. Built by the Teutonic Order in the 13th century, it was once the headquarters of the knight-monks. After their defeat, it became the seat of the voivodship. Partially destroyed and then rebuilt, it has now been restored to its medieval glory. Divided into three parts, it houses museums, a church, a chapel and the once-occupied living quarters. For a complete visit, plan a full day and arrive early

In the past, the port of Gdańsk was located along the Motława, at the foot of the town. The perpendicular streets leading to the port opened onto the river through fortified gates in the medieval enclosure. In the ^17th century, as maritime traffic increased, a long wooden quay was built to facilitate the transshipment of goods. By the ^19th century, the port had grown so much that it was permanently relocated to the Vistula River and its lateral canals. Today, this quay is the last vestige of the old port that made the city so rich, and is now a magnificent promenade on fine days, lined with beautiful houses with carved gables and doors that open onto perpendicular streets.

Leaving the Porte Verte, take the Long quai on the left. The first gate you come across is the Bread Gate (Brama Chlebnicka). Built in the ^15th century, it marks the entrance to Chlebnicka Street. Its coat of arms - two crosses without crowns - testifies to the town's attachment to the Teutonic Order at the time.

Turning onto Chlebnicka Street, the Schlieff House (Dom Schlieffów) stands at no. 12. This sublime ^16th-century house was dismantled in 1820 at the request of Prussian Emperor Wilhem III, and taken to Potsdam. It has since been rebuilt exactly as it was, and can still be admired today.

At no. 16, the English House (Dom Angielski) was the largest house on the street when it was built at the end of the ^16th century. It bears witness to the city's close trading links with England at the time. Returning to the quay, a little further on you'll find the Mariacka Gate (Brama Mariacka), which leads to the picturesque Mariacka Street.

Coming out onto the quay again, at no. 26, stands a house with a turret that once served as an observation post for ships and was later converted into an astronomical observatory. In 1845, it became the home of the Society of Naturalists (Dom Towarzystwa Przyrodniczego), frequented by the great scientist Humboldt, and since 1962 has housed the Archaeological Museum.

Next up are the Great Crane Gate (Brama Żuraw), the Holy Spirit Gates(Św. Ducha),Świętojańska(Brama Świętojańska) and Straganiarska(Brama Straganiarska). The latter three, built in the ^15th century, open onto the streets of the same names. Afterwards, we reach the Old Fish Market Square (Targ Rybny) and the Swan Belfry (Baszta Łabędź), a vestige of the vanished medieval wall.

The earliest records of the church date back to the ^14th century. The present building, built in the ^16th century in Gothic architectural style, was a monastery for penitent women. It was completely destroyed during the war and had to wait until 1973 to be rebuilt. In 1980, striking workers took refuge in the church, which was used as a backdrop for demonstrations broadcast by TV stations around the world, and became one of the centers of the Solidarność trade union. It can be visited subject to payment of an entrance fee of 5 zł.

On a surface of 186 km ², this natural park is the largest in Pomerania. It extends from Łeba to more than 30 km west along the sea coast. Created in 1967, the park has been inscribed in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve List since 1977. It contains, in addition to a few small villages, coastal dunes, forests, lakes, lanterns and peatlands. One quarter of its area is occupied by forests, one quarter by a set of four lakes, including Łebsko and Gardno lakes. Łebsko Lake, the largest in Pomerania (70 km ²), houses over 250 species of birds, migratory or non-migratory, posing as a true ornithological paradise. The most impressive part of the park is its sand dunes.

In Łeba you can get a detailed map that allows you to visit the park, whose entrance is located in Rąbka, 2-3 km outside Łeba. The park can be traveled by bike (on time), by bus (single or round trip) or by foot. In Rowy you can also rent kayaks (++48 607 512 740, 10 zper per hour). In summer, boats turn around Łebsko Lake (++48 +48 59 86 19 12, www.lebskiserwisturystyczny.pl, 14 zl). From the main road to the dunes, paths allow you to reach the beach. It is possible to swim. Think of your swimsuits before entering the park to enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

The interiors are superb, and mainly the auditorium (sala rycerska), which covers a surface of 450 m ².

The history of this beautiful ten-hectare park is closely linked to the Cistercian presence in Oliwa. It was the last Cistercian abbot of Oliwa, Jacek Rybiński (1701-1782), who commissioned Kazimierz Dębinski to design formal gardens, which even today occupy the southwestern part of the park, while to the north lie the English gardens. With its paths, rivers, grottoes and waterfalls it provides an enchanting setting for a picnic or a brief nature getaway on a sunny day.

The building was constructed in the ^17th century by Antoni Van Obberghen in pure Flemish style. The facade decorations were designed by Wilhelm Van Der Meer and Abraham Van Der Block. Decorative elements include the Gdańsk coat of arms and a statue of the Roman goddess Minerva.

The large arsenal was used for its intended purpose until the ^19th century. The building was almost destroyed during the bombing of Gdańsk in 1945. Rebuilt in 1965 in supposed ^17th-century forms, it now houses the Academy of Fine Arts.

This impressive structure was built in the second half of the ^14th century under the orders of the Teutonic Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode, as part of the city's new defense system. In 1838, a fire destroyed the roof, which was subsequently rebuilt with a new structure including a clock tower. Completely destroyed by fire and riddled with bullet holes at the end of the Second World War, the gate was finally rebuilt in the mid-1960s in its present glorious form. A monument worth discovering!

St. Lawrence Church, located in the heart of Malbork Castle, is a ^14th-century Gothic masterpiece. With its soaring vaults, detailed carvings and magnificent stained glass windows, it bears witness to the grandeur of the Teutonic Order. Once the spiritual center of the fortress, it continues to attract visitors from all over the world with its history and majestic beauty. Its interior is adorned with detailed sculptures, religious frescoes and richly decorated altars, testifying to the skills of the craftsmen of the time.

Built between 1824-1833 and in 1859, the salt works and the graduation building in Ciechocinek, used to drain the water from the salt works, constitute an admirable architectural ensemble. The buildings are arranged in a horseshoe shape, based on 7,000 wooden panels wedged into the ground over a total length of 1,741.5 meters. During the salt production process, healing particles naturally diffuse into the surrounding area, which is known for its remarkable microclimate, rich in iodine and bromine, allowing for natural inhalation.

This beautiful church in the characteristic Gdańsk style was built towards the end of the 17th century over a few years (more precisely from 1678 to 1681) on the initiative of King Jan III Sobieski and Primate Andrzej Olszowski. It was commissioned to provide a new place of worship for Catholics after the loss of Our Lady, granted to the city's Protestants. As a result, it is also the only Baroque church in Gdańsk, but unfortunately it can no longer be visited and can only be seen at the time of masses and other religious episodes.

Originally built in the ^13th century, it was first remodeled in the late ^14th century in a two-storey Gothic style, with an inner courtyard. In the early ^17th century, it was rebuilt in a Dutch Mannerist style. Since 1958, it has housed the Regional Museum(Muzeum Okręgowe), where you'll find mainly Polish paintings from the ^18th, ^19th and ^20th centuries, as well as objects of art and everyday life from Toruń in the Middle Ages. Once you've enjoyed the museum, be sure to visit the tower.

Erected in the middle of the city, this skansen takes the form of a small rural village that gives a glimpse of the traditional countryside architecture in the Toruń region in past centuries. There are farms, forges, beehives, water and windmills, as well as objects and utensils of everyday life. In the summer, extras in traditional costume bring the past to life a little more. To add to the immersion, a bastion of the 19th century fortifications and a Prussian arsenal from 1824 guard the entrance.

Bydgoszcz's oldest church is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture. Its interiors are exceptional and impressive. Its walls and ceilings are covered in vivid colors, polychromes painted between 1922 and 1925 by Henryk Jackowski, inspired by the modernist ideas of the Młoda Polska art movement. The combination of color, Gothic architecture and Baroque altars is breathtaking. A must-see.

Lined with some of the town's most beautiful houses, Rue du Long Marché is the very heart of the historic town. Roughly in the middle of the street, in front of the Cour d'Artus, stands the superb Fontanna Neptuna (Neptune Fountain). Created by Flemish artist Abraham Van Den Block in 1633, it symbolizes the close relationship between Gdańsk and the sea. The facades of the buildings that make up the complex are splendid, meticulously painted and colored. Don't hesitate to admire them and look for the little details hidden inside!

In this center, you'll discover an exhibition tracing the history of the Solidarnośc trade union, which triggered the strike of August 14, 1980. The route, starting from Solidarności Square, leads to the building occupied by Lech Wąłęsa. Here you can see the "Occupational Health and Safety" room, where negotiations between strikers and government took place on August 31, 1980. An audiovisual installation traces the chronology of events through slideshows and archive films.

Emblematic, this magnificent pier is the longest of the European continent, protruding 511 m into the sea. Some games and stores decorate a promenade of more than 1 km round trip. A first pier of 31.5 m was built in 1827, enlarged in 1910 to 315 m. The present pier was built between 1927 and 1928 at the same time as the Skwer Kuracyjny square. Beautiful view of the Baltic Sea and the cliffs of the bay. A major attraction, offering superb views at sunrise or sunset.

Recently completely renovated, this house is dedicated to the life and work of the famous astronomer. The museum occupies both buildings, in Gothic style, although it was number 15 that saw the birth of the famous astronomer on February 19th 1473. In one room there is also a model of the city in the 15th century. The modern animations allow to live and relive through many films the life at that time. Between beliefs and myths, we learn a lot about the revolutionary astronomer and his acceptance by society and researchers of the time.

Nicknamed "The Crown of Gdańsk", it is one of Poland's largest churches, measuring 105 m long, 66 m wide (at transept level), 27 m high, and 5,000 m² of floor space. The roof covers an area of one hectare. The church is comparable in size to Notre-Dame de Paris. It can hold up to 20,000 people, as was the case during the period of martial law to support the members of Solidarnośćwho took refuge here. It took 160 years of work, between 1343 and 1502, to complete its construction. Initially Catholic, it became Protestant in 1572, before reverting to Catholicism in 1945. It was damaged during the Second World War, but rebuilt afterwards.

The interior, painted white, is particularly light and bright, reinforcing the impression of gigantism. 80% of its art treasures were saved during the war and stand out against the white walls. You can also climb the 405 steps to the top of the tower, for an exceptional view of the whole city.

Don't miss the astronomical clock, the real jewel of the church, built between 1464 and 1470. At the bottom, the two-screen calendarium shows the date, time and liturgical calendar; in the middle, the planetarium shows the lunar phases, the zodiac signs and the positions of the sun and moon in relation to them; above, at noon, the twelve apostles, the Magi and Death; at the very top, Adam and Eve.

Located at the entrance to the Gdańsk construction sites, in Solidarność Square, three 40-meter-high stainless steel crosses stand in memory of the workers who fell at this location, under militia bullets, during the 1970 riots. For the next 10 years, to secretly pay tribute to their companions, the workers placed stones that the authorities immediately removed. Under pressure from the unions, in 1980, the Communist Party agreed to its construction.