Rent a tourist guide
Gdynia
The
town
Gdynia is the newest part of 3-city and probably the most dynamic, with lots
of international and profitable companies. The unemployment rate is
negligible and in the street you will notice people moving on their way to
tangible activities.
A
quarter of a million people are gathered together in this enclave, and
according to surveys on well-being, these are the people in Poland who are
happiest with life; it has been like this for quite a few years, and
actually life seems uncomplicated when you walk through the well-kept city
with the broad boulevards and elegant shops.
In
1922, the village Gdynia starts to grow intensively after a government
decision in Warszawa. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Poland has
around 140 kilometres of coastline, but that doesn’t include a harbour city.
Gdynia is placed strategically on the Bay of Gdansk and the area itself is a
natural harbour, just needing to be adapted to its purpose. The first cargo
dock is opened in 1923.
Gdynia is the biggest Polish investment in the interwar period, and after
opening the first temporary quay, everything happens quickly; a railway line
is established, a shipyard, infrastructure, stadium, and huge companies are
attracted to Gdynia. The Danish company Højgård & Schultz was the general
contractor on the construction of the actual port, a task that lasted from
1925 till 1935. By the outbreak of WWII, the Poles were ousted from the
town, which was afterwards declared to be German. After the destructions of
the war, Højgård & Schultz was again in 1945 given the task of rebuilding
the harbour, a task that had priority before many of the other urgent
reconstruction tasks after the war because of its strategic importance for
trade.
The
atmosphere
Gdynia is not a typical holiday town, and you will also meet a relatively
small number of tourists when walking through the streets of the city; in
spite of an indubitable international influence caused by a huge number of
international companies being represented here, it is of course a huge,
international harbour town.
When you walk through the town, it is obvious that it is quite a young town,
where the town planners have made a heavy, centralistic fingerprint. We
notice this in the broad streets and boulevards, but also in the logic that
was used to bind the town together, and makes it easy to get around, walking or with
the use of public transport.
The
market
Market halls are placed right next to the central station and offer an orgy
of foodstuff as well as clothing and other consumer goods. The market halls
are much bigger than those usually seen in Polish towns and the quality is
very good; especially the fish market is worth a visit, but the entire
market area is very dynamic and takes place in a fresh and somewhat
organised manner.
The
Harbour
Undoubtedly the harbour is the most important recreational place in Gdynia,
this is where the whole town will get together for a stroll at the weekend,
and at the grounds next to the harbour, parties, music events and other
activities are arranged. The harbour consists of a number of basins, most of
them intended for goods or raw materials, i.e. the coal harbour is an
independent area. You may walk around most of the harbour area and take a
close look at the usually very large number of ships alongside the quays.
The most popular place for an evening walk is Jan Pawel II Avenue that runs
along a row of small bars, fish restaurants and interesting shopping stalls.
This is also where you find the Ocean Aquarium of Gdynia, water tram stop
and ferry connection to Sopot, Gdansk and the peninsula Hel. The destroyer
Blyskawica (Flash of Lightening) from 1937 lies in the harbour the year
round, and visitors can walk around and have a demonstration of former naval
war techniques.
Kamienna Gora
The
best view of Gdynia is from Kamienna Gora (the Stone mountain) – around half
a kilometre from Jan Pawel II Avenue and the harbour in the direction
towards Sopot.
The
peak point is 52 metres above sea level, and it gives an excellent view over
the bay, the ships and the rest of the harbour and surrounding areas. A huge
cross marks the top of the hill where we also find a museum dedicated to the
Polish navy.
Orlowo and the cliff
Orlowo lies by the shore, where Sopot ends and Gdynia starts. The most well
known landmark is the cliff reaching out into the water and making a barrier
for a direct view from Sopot and the centre of Gdynia.
The
neighbourhood is a typical holiday resort, by some considered the most
exclusive you can find in Tri-City, with its own pier (though not as huge as
the Sopot pier), summer theatre and exclusive buildings. It’s a bit more
relaxed than Sopot itself, but it is within a walking distance of Monte
Cassino, so no reason to worry about lack of entertainment.
