Gdansk - A Quick Guide

Gdansk

Gdansk, a great Polish city that is the most populated city in the Pomerania region of Northern Poland with a population of 455,830. Situated on the Baltic coast, it's the principal seaport of Poland. Needless to say it's a great place to spend a short break in.

If you're feeling active, why not pay a visit to the huge Roman Catholic St Mary's Church and climb the four hundred steps up to the glorious bell tower. Begun in 1379, it's the largest brick church in the world, measuring 105.5m long and 66m wide at the nave. Once you're inside, you'll actually get a grasp of how big it really is - there's actually room for 25,000 people in there.

Get an idea on how Communism affected Poland by visiting the European Solidarity Centre. You can't go Gdansk and not visit this museum as it is simply fantastic. As the name suggests its main focus is on the Solidarity Movement that was crucial in freeing many countries from the Communism they had lived under for more than forty years. A lot of the content is accompanied with an English translation.

Another informative place to visit will be 'Westerplatte'. What is the westerplatte? On the 1st of September 1939 World War II broke out on this site. The site now features a small museum alongside a large monument to the Polish Defenders. If you are remotely interested in World War II this would be a great place to visit to understand more about the Polish view on the War and how it started.

In contrast to the previous activities, a more relaxed place to visit and great for people with families is the Oliwa Zoo. A little bit out of the centre (on the tram line), it's not just your typical Zoo; its surroundings include a great forest that looks stunning in the summer time on a warm day but you should be warned; the summer weekends are typically very crowded and you may struggle to get parked if you're driving. Tickets are reasonably priced.

We also recommend the national art museum that features various exhibitions such as medieval fine arts, regional furniture and gold smithery. These are the permanent exhibitions but there are other exhibitions that change regularly such as the Abbots' Palace showing contemporary art from Poland and the Abbots' Granary showing ethnographic collections.

Finally, no trip to Gdansk would be complete without a visit to the Golden Gate - one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Built in 1614, it is located at the end of Long Lane and forms part of the old city fortifications. Constructed by Jan Strakowski and designed by Abraham van den Blocke, it shows a Dutch style, in contrast to the building next to it, the Botherhood of St George. Definitely, well worth a visit.

Just a quick and brief guide on what's on offer in Gdansk, this often overlooked European destination. Flights are actually available from Luton Airport.

(If you need cheap parking at Luton Airport, visit Luton Airport Parking).

We hope you enjoy your stay.

Article Source: James_Bal

Photo By - positivka @ Flickr.com

 

Secrets of 3 Cities to Discover on European Train Holidays

With so many cities to experience in Europe, train holidays can be the perfect way to do it. It can be tricky discovering the secrets of each city, but some of the special places and experiences that can really make memories will last a lifetime. Travelling through such iconic, vibrant cities as Warsaw, Budapest and Istanbul, it can be a challenge deciding what to visit while your train rests at the platform. Here are a few ideas to investigate in these fabulous cities to give you a head start:

Warsaw

For those on European train holidays looking for an insight into Warsaw's culture and history, look no further than Ujazdow Castle. Currently housing the Centre for Contemporary Art, the Castle includes permanent and temporary exhibitions, and events like concerts, shows, and creative workshops. The centre also helps develop unique art programmes that correlate with the spaces within the castle. The first castle on the site was constructed in the 13th century, and there were many structures built and demolished on the same spot, until the castle was rebuilt with its current 18th century design - this building has thankfully endured and stands today.

Budapest

If you have time to explore Budapest, one delight you simply shouldn't miss when travelling across the continent in Europe on train holidays is a relaxing dip in the traditional Turkish baths. There's no better place in Budapest than the Szechenyi Medicinal Bath - one of the largest bathing complexes in Europe, and the only 'old' medicinal baths to be found in the Pest side of the city. With indoor pools dating from as far back as 1913, there is a definite atmosphere of classical grandeur to the baths.

Istanbul

If you're in Istanbul for any length of time during your European train holidays, it's likely you'll visit Astiklal Avenue, Istanbul's most famous thoroughfare. It's one of Istanbul's busiest streets, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day on some weekends! Despite the crowds, you're likely to discover a few treasures of your own along the avenue. Located in the picturesque and historic Beyoaylu district, the avenue is home to bookshops, galleries, cinemas, theatres, libraries, historical patisseries, chocolateries and restaurants. The avenue is surrounded by smaller locations and historical buildings, each with their own unique character to experience. The Roman Catholic church of Santa Maria, for example, is well worth a visit.
 
No matter your destination in Europe, train holidays can allow you to unlock a cache of secret experiences you may otherwise miss - these are but a few.

Anna Copeland is the Marketing Manager for The Danube Express, which specialises in Europe train holidays. The Danube Express has a range of exclusive Europe train holidays travelling across countries like Poland, Hungary and Turkey.

Article Source: Anna_Copeland