Gdansk: Communism & Solidarity Tour
Gdansk is known for its beautiful architecture and impressive monuments but also for its rich history. It is often called “the cradle of Solidarity”. While visiting this city, you should learn a bit about the history of the Solidarity revolution – the national huge success which began right here. It was the beginning of the fall of communism and the iron wall, not only in Poland but also in other countries in Europe as well. We would like to encourage you to join us for an interesting and significant lesson of history and take you for a walk along the sites related with Communism era and Solidarity movement. We will make sure you move back in time to one of the most important and symbolic moments in modern history of Poland.
We offer private Communism and Solidarity tours of Gdansk on request.
Tour itinerary:
- hotel pick up at chosen time
- short drive to the European Solidarity Center (ESC) – created in 2005, a cultural institution that commemorates the Solidarity revolution; from the outside, a building with an unique design that blends in well with the shipyard’s architecture; inside a winter garden, an auditorium, a library, workshop rooms, an archive, a multimedia library;
- visiting the permanent exhibition in ESC with our private city guide for up to 1,5 hours which includes:
- the story of Solidarity in a suggestive and modern way and about a social movement that at its peak, had 10 million members and carried out a peaceful revolution; it also shows the story of opposition movements and changes that took place in Central and Eastern Europe by archival objects, documents, manuscripts, photos and video projections, interactive installations; it includes 1800 objects and is divided into seven rooms
- entrance to the symbolic BHP Hall which is a historic building from the the 20th century, it was built during the reconstruction of the Casarska Shipyard in Gdansk; after World War II, trainings for the needs of the Gdansk Shipyard took place there; in August 1980, the BHP Hall was the seat of the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee
4. approx 1,5 hour walking part of the tour during which you will see:
- Gdansk Shipyard – during Communism it was Lenin’s Gdansk Shipyard, known to be the biggest manufacturer of ships in Poland; here after WW1, an international company was formed in the shipyard which included capital from Poland (20%) and Gdansk (20%) but also from the UK and France; later on the shipyard was called The International Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited – during WW2, it was fulfilling the procedures of the German Third Reich navy
- Monument to the Fallen Shipyard workers of 1970 – the first monument in Communist Poland commemorating the victims of the communist regime; the monument became a memorial to, and symbol of, Poland’s route to freedom
- St. Bridget’s Church – built in the 14th century; it features the world’s biggest amber altar with the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary – the Protector of the Workers
- St. Mary’s Church – one of the oldest churches in Gdansk, built in the end of the 12th century, and the only one that survived WWII intact; during Communism, the church played an important role as an opposition cultural and educational center
- the Dariusz Kobzdej Rock Monument – an opposition activist in the Polish People’s Republic
- the King Jan III Sobieski Monument – this monument commemorates the victory of Polish King Jan III Sobieski over the Turks in the Battle of Vienna (1683); monument became a symbol of freedom for the people of Gdansk; in the 70s and 80s, it witnessed patriotic demonstrations; today, it is a must-see place on the map of the Independence Parade that takes place on 11th November
- the Monument to Antoni Browarczyk and the victims of Martial law – Antoni Browarczyk was one of the first and one of the youngest victims of the martial law in Gdansk. He was only 20 years old when he was shot on 17th December 1981
5. 15 min. drive to the district Gdansk Wrzeszcz where we will make a short stop to see:
- the Anna Walentynowicz monument – the monument dedicated to the democratic opposition activist in the Polish People’s Republic; she was a welder and later a crane operator in Lenin’s Gdansk Shipyard
6. approx 20 min drive from the centre of Gdansk to Oliwa District where during up to 1 hour sightseeing tour you will see:
- the National NSZZ “Solidarity” Delegates Congress – this tenement house was home to the first headquarters of the Inter-company Founding Committee NSZZ “Solidarity”
- the Walesa Family Apartment in Zaspa – the home of Lech Walesa – the leader of “Solidarity”
- the John Paul II Park – an area between Jana Pawla II Avenue and Rzeczypospolitej Avenue; it covers an area over 25 ha, here took place the mass for the people of work that Pope John Paul II celebrated on 12th June 1987 for millions of people
7. approx 20 min. drive back from Oliwa District to the centre of Gdansk
8. drop off at your hotel
Whole tour lasts up to 5 hours
Prices:
- 980 PLN per person (1 person)
- 540 PLN per person (2 persons)
- 390 PLN per person (3 persons)
- 350 PLN per person (4 persons)
- 290 PLN per person (5 persons)
- 260 PLN per person (6 persons)
- Contact us (7 persons or more)
What is included?:
- hotel pick up at chosen time and hotel drop off,
- comfortable, air-conditioned, private transportation
- professional private city guide service in chosen language
- up to 5 hours of sightseeing of Gdansk according to itinerary described above
- entrance tickets to European Solidarity Center Museum
This private tour is available in following languages: English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Russian, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch and others
*some languages may be subject of availability and prices can vary
Choose number of participants
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