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GDAŃSK
OLIWA
SOPOT
GDYNIA
WESTERPLATTE
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KARTUZY
MALBORK
FROMBORK
ŻUŁAWY
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GDAŃSK
Is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. Over a 1000 years
ago St. Adalbertus came from Prague to the burg city on the Motlau
River with a christianization mission. It can be said that since
then till the 18th century the town was spoken of very often. Ones
were praised the wealth of the Gdansk's houses, the others rebuked
the citizens for their pride and audacity. But where else – if not
on one of the the Gdansk’s façades we can read an inscription saying:
„For your envy”...– Gdansk was one of the most well-known cities
in the then Europe, and became home for the numerous refugees and
the oppressed. Till today one of Gdansk's districts is „New Scotland”...
Most of those, who settled in Gdansk were sculptors, architects,
painters, artists... In other words great people. And because of
that – walking Gdansk's streets, and visiting museums we think –
“how European it is”, or „haven’t I been here before Exactly so,
as Gdansk was an international, multicultural, and European town
long before the European Union was established. It was here that
the king of Poland signed the act of religious tolerance and equality.
Whereas Western Europe experienced religious disturbancies. It was
here – that the biggest brick church of the medieval world was built
– to show the status and role of this Hanseatic city. It was here
– that the kings of Poland entered the town through the Golden Gate,
not to admire the beauty of the city – but for loans from the City
Council. The town's budget was twice or even three times bigger
than that of the then capital in Krakow. It is also worth mentnioning
why Gdansk grew to be one of the welthiest towns in Europe. From
the whole territory of the Polish kingdom the treasures of the Polish
land was transported to Gdansk. The treasure was mainly grain. That
is why the city was often called the „granary of Europe”. The city
on the Motlau River played a significant role in the history of
Poland and Europe too.
It was here – a few kilometers from the Main Town – on the Westerplatte
Peninsula – that the Second World War broke out on the 1st of September
1939 at 4:48 am when the Nazis invaded Poland...
But Gdansk also became a town where the Eruopean Route to Freedem
started. The strike in the Gdansk Shipyard, the charismatic electrician
– Lech Wałęsa , signing the August Agreements – all that were the
factors which initiated the effect of domino in Poland as well as
abroad. Today the borad with the 21 Demands made by the shipyard
workers is registered in the Memory of the World UNESCO list. And
Lech Wałęsa who received the peace Nobel Prize was the third foreigner
invited by the US Capitol. He told about the Solidarity. He was
bid goodbye with a standing ovation.

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OLIWA
At present one of Gdansk's districts. In 12th century Cistercian
monks were brought here. They were not only monks, but also good
framers and experts in art, sensitive to the surrounding beauty.
They settled far from the city centers, near streams and rivers,
where they could set up mills and farms. They quickly increased
their property enlarging the church. And so the existing till today
cathedral being part of the former monastery is among one of the
longest European churches (107m). There – besides the magnificent
high altar adorned with 150 heads of cherubs one can find one of
the most renowned organ in Poland. It is the place where during
the concerts the music can be heard as well as felt.

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SOPOT
Summer capital of Poland, a spa and health resort.One of the
most green towns in Poland. So can the town be described in simplest
words. However Sopot is something more. It is the climate of little
streets, Art Nouveau houses, music and quietness.Here ilferuns slower
and unhurriedly. Before the war Sopot was a den of gambling and
was called „Monte Carlo of the North”. The founder of Sopot's fame
was a doctor in Napoleon's army - Jean George Haffner. It is thanks
to him that people believed that swmming can be beneficial to health.
Even since 1823 the bathers could enjoy the therapeutic baths in
the heated sea water, transported by pipe system from the Gdansk
Bay. From the depth of 800 m the famous Sopot Salt Water is being
mined. It has healing propoerties, but also is used in making pickled
cucumbers...in 19th century the Sopot beachwas divided into the
North Beach for gentlemen and South Beach for ladies. Till now we
can see pictures showing the bathers on the Sopot beach. Ladies
in long skirts, and gentlemen in striped swimsiuts.
Sopot is also a horse racing as well as tennis competitions, and
a very unique Forest Opera covered with a 4000sq meters roof.

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GDYNIA
defined as the town from the „dreams and reveries”Within several
years from a small fishermen's village – one of the most rapidly
developing port towns sprang out. The Cashubian dwellers of the
village became millionairies within several weeks.

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WESTERPLATTE
In 1930-ties the Westerplatte peninsula was a holiday resort
for the Gdansk citizens.
There was ta beach, birds' singing, a pier...
On the 1st of September 1939 at 4:48 am Schlezwig Holstein started
to shell the place thus commencing the 2nd World War.

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KARTUZY
is a small town inhabited by t16 thousand peopleM. Teh town
is situated in the heart of the Cashubian District and is surrounded
by 4 lakes. Kartuzy is situated on the „Cashubian Route”, running
throuh the most charming areas of the land. Kaszuby - as the legend
says – is a land made by God at the very end of His creation of
earth. When God turned his sack with landscapes upside down, Kaszuby
got hills, lakes, rivers, fields and forests. And so it is here
– we have everything that one needs for a nice relaxation. Besides
– the region has many interesting monuments and places of interest
worth seeing.

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MALBORK
on the Nogat River, about 60 km from Gdansk. Covering an area
of 21 ha, there is the world's biggest brick castle. It consists
of three parts: Lower Castle, Middle Castle, and High Castle. To
bild this „biggest heap of bricks east of Alps” about 35 million
hand made bricks were used. Even because of that it is worth coming
here. The Castle of Malbork however, is not only the history of
the Saint Mary's Hospital Order of the German House in Jerusalem
– i.e. the Teutonic Order. but also a splendid example of the 19th
century as well as the post-war restoration and reconstruction.
Here the history is still alive and discovered, especially when
„reading the bricks”

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FROMBORK
Situated on the Wisła Bay is often called the Pearl of Warmia
Region. „At the world's end” it was called by Nikolaus Copernicus,
the canon priest in the Frombork Cathedral, doctor, official, and
of course Great Astronomer. Not much has changed here since then.
Frombork still is „at the world's end”, in the Cathedral the presence
of Copernicus is nearly noticeable, expecially after the discovery
of his grave. And stars above have a specific shine. The Cathedral
Hill dominates majestatically over the town. The two separate systemns
were united not long ago. Who is fascinated with stars, and was
not satisfied with the starry sky over Frombork, can visit the planetarium.
Not far from the Cathedral Hill there is the Holy Spirit Hospital.
A magic place where time stopped in the 14th century. Now a set
of beautiful frescoes from the 14th century can be admired inside
the hospital chapel. There is an interesting medical exposition
in the former hospital too. Around the hospital there is a herbal
garden..... Holy Spirit Hospital is a unique place, maybe that is
why the Mazurian storks chose it for their settlement – and built
the greatest nest I have ever seen.

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ŻUŁAWY (Lowlands)
a depressed land fully created by man. Depression – into which
in the 16th century settler from the Netherlands were brought. Tehy
changed the appearance of the land. Thanks to the Mennonites, their
hard work and ingenuity, Żuławy (The Lowlands) became a real Eldorado,
the richest part of the Pomerania. From village to village one oculd
travel using the network of water canals. Windmills weer built to
serve the dwellers of the land. Fertile soil made the Mennonites
wealthy people. An example can be a wedding from the 17th century
– when 445 pairs had a good time for 2 weeks.

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