With almost half a million residents, Gdańsk is a major economic, cultural and tourist centre situated on the Polish coast. The massive brick bulk of St Mary's Basilica towering over the city, the Medieval Crane dozing off stooped on the Motława bank, the rich Renaissance facades of the houses around the Long Market and the statue of Neptune there reigning over what is acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful marketplaces in
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Europe - these are the symbolic silhouettes of Gdańsk. This thousand-year old city on the Baltic coast has been the hometown of Hevelius, Fahrenheit, Schopenhauer, Grass, and Wałęsa. Gdańsk greets visitors with an abundance of sites.
The Royal Road forming the longest urban axis of the Medieval Europe is the most interesting historic road in Gdańsk. It was the place where parades and ceremonies were organised, and where Polish monarchs made their way into Gdańsk. The
town hall of the main city served the authorities of the wealthy and powerful of Gdańsk. First erected in the 13th century, it shows marks of numerous alterations it underwent at later dates. The external architecture and the interiors, arranged in the Dutch Mannerist style, appropriately represented the wealth and position of the city. This historic building now houses the Gdańsk History Museum. The
Neptune Fountain, located in the Long Market, stands as a symbol of Gdańsk's bond with the sea adding charm to this most beautiful town market. The Crane over the Motława River is the most characteristic and unmistakable symbol of Gdańsk. Back in the Middle Ages it was the largest port crane in Europe handling cargo and putting up ship masts. It also served as a gateway to the city. But Gdańsk has its place in modern history as well as the home of human rights activist and Nobel Prize winner Lech Walesa who has established in the city the European Solidarity Center which will serve as a venue for important international meetings and as a beacon to all those who are fighting for freedom and human rights. The sites and the sounds of Gdańsk make it one of Poland's most enchanting cities.
