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ring different periods in its history). One of
its most salient aspects is the tower which
is open to the public and from where one
can get a view of the city from a height of
80 metres.
We pass various gates as we continue to
walk that open up to other streets until re-
aching the old famous Crane Building. In
medieval times, this was the largest crane
in Europe, a huge machine inside a building
made of wood. Built in the 14th century, the
crane was used to lift the parts and compo-
nents used to build ships.
On the banks of Lead Island, in front of the
Crane, is the Sea Museum (of which the
crane is part) and at the dock is Soldek, the
first ship built by Poland at the Gdansk shi-
pyards in 1948.
At the end of the dock is a tower at the
banks of the River in the Old District. The
monument honouring those who defended
the post office building pays tribute to the
postal workers who resisted the attacks of
the Nazis. Another landmark building is the
Great Windmill, an enormous house with its
typical steep roof located near the canal su-
rrounding the historic district.
Home of the trade union and the
wooden dock
The trade union worldwide landmark is
situated in the city’s northeast district:
the shipyards where the Solidarity trade
union was born, led by Lech Walesa who
would later be elected the country’s pre-
sident. There are three huge iron crosses
at these facilities that were placed there
in honour of the workers who lost their
lives at this site. The exhibit at the entry
describes the story of these shipyards
which, in its most important period em-
ployed 20,000 workers instead of the
current 3,000 employees.
Sopot and Gdynia
Before leaving Gdansk, one should not,
however, miss visiting Sopot and Gdynia,
although this visit will not take as long.
Sopot, a city of 40,000 inhabitants, is the
typical recreation and vacation town. Its
most important landmark is its wooden
dock. The most important buildings, such
as the Grand Hotel and the lighthouse
are situated in this beach area.
Gdynia, 20 km from Gdansk and with a
population of 250,000, is the Poland’s
major port for merchandise. Each year,
the city hosts Poland’s most important
music and theatre festivals. From its
Orlowo beach, one can admire the cliff
landscape, unique in this country. The
most recommended activities in Gdynia
include a visit to the Oceanographic and
Naval museums and shopping.