Today, I want to discover Gdańsk with you, a port city on the Baltic coast in the north of Poland.
While Gdańsk has a special meaning not only for Poland, but for the whole of Europe.
Do you want to know more? You can't tell by looking at scenic Gdańsk
You can't tell by looking at scenic Gdańsk
that it's a city in Europe marked by fate. But: We'll get to that in just a minute.
With its historic center, Gdańsk is one of the most popular city destinations in Poland.
Pre-pandemic, 1.5 million tourists vacationed here annually, mostly Germans and Scandinavians.
But Poland borders Ukraine, and with the war right next door, people are staying away.
There are 60 percent fewer foreign tourists.
The old port on the Motława River.
Without it, the Gdańsk of today would not exist. It's lined with cafés and restaurants.
In the Middle Ages, it made Gdańsk the richest city in Europe.
I feel like going for a ride on the pirate ship.
It casts off several times a day.
This boat trip is perfect for a little break.
The city is seamlessly connected to the port, which has developed around Gdańsk over the centuries.
It's the biggest port in Poland with one of the largest repair yards in the world.
For the people of Gdańsk, these cranes are a symbol of home.
Most of them belong to the old shipyard which is the soul of the city.
Well, and not only that. This is a place that fundamentally changed Europe.
The famous Gdańsk shipyard.
Over 40 years ago, there was a strike here by shipyard workers and with that began the
decline of socialism in Poland and the end of communism in Europe.
The struggle for workers' rights gained momentum here. Millions of Poles organized themselves
in the Solidarność movement, fighting for freedom and democracy under an authoritarian regime.
The European Solidarity Centre at the former shipyard tells this story.
Right above the entrance – the Ukrainian flag.
Anna Walentynowicz was a crane operator and
later a founding member of the Solidarność or Solidarity trade union.
Solidarność. This worker activism turned into an anti-communist opposition movement.
It spread across the whole country. The authoritarian regime increased the pressure.
They reached their goals with the principle of non-violence.
Lech Wałęsa, a trained electrician and trade union leader led Poland to independence.
In 1990, he became president and remained so for 5 years.
These activists created change in a hopeless situation.
This is what the Solidarność movement still stands for today.
You can guess what I wish for.
Pax: Peace!
Today, ships are no longer being built in the Gdańsk shipyard.
The area is still occasionally used by companies. Most of the production halls are empty.
It's a lost place for the time being. But there are plans to create a new, chic
urban district here based on the model of London's Docklands or Hamburg's HafenCity.
With apartments, shops, and offices. The old shipyard area is like a huge adventure
The old shipyard area is like a huge adventure playground,
because the investor has left the empty spaces to artists, and now you can
find galleries, rehearsal rooms, and studios here.
This character looks a bit like me.
We have the same nose.
The gallery Mleczny Piotr. An artist collective has found a temporary home here.
The building was a factory for 170 years, where the people of Gdańsk had no access.
Now visitors are always welcome.
Great, ah, okay, it’s a magnifying glass for tools?
Yeah yeah. You know what this is? It's from a car.
- It's a lamp. - This a lamp from a car, yeah.
There are more spots in the shipyard that people in Gdańsk have taken over and filled with new life.
The 100cnia is a container settlement with lots going on.
Here you can be loud and party until the early morning.
And you can meet cool people.
On the very spot where the democracy movement in Poland began more than 40 years ago,
life and freedom are now being celebrated.
Gdańsk gives us hope that history can change for the better at any time.
I really have to say, Gdańsk is impressive. It's not just a big city by the sea with a
beach, a beautiful old town, and, well, this really cool shipyard.
In this city, you can also feel the history of Europe around every corner.
So Gdańsk is a place you should visit.