Metravel city quest
City Gdansk: free walking route “Gdańsk Quest: The Amber City” along the sights. 8 points. Approximately 2 h. Quests and legends - straight from your
Gdańsk is known as the city of the “gold of the north” — for centuries, amber was fished out of the Baltic here, making the free Hanseatic merchants rich. This same city was the first to bear the impact of the Second World War on 1 September 1939, was almost wiped off the face of the earth — and was rebuilt from old engravings and photographs, house by house.
Today you will walk the ceremonial route of the Polish monarchs — from the Golden Gate to the Motława embankment. Along the way, you will follow the trail of gold: it will gleam on statues, in a legend about a fountain, and at the top of the town hall. Look closely: the solution at every stop is always visible on the object itself.
The route points in order — what these places are and why they are interesting. Tasks and answers stay inside the quest.
Abraham van den Blocke built the Golden Gate in 1612–1614. It marks the start of the Royal Route, the ceremonial road along which kings made their grand entrance into Gdańsk.
An optional stop for pleasure, rather than puzzles. The best discoveries on a trip often happen over a cup of coffee.
You have reached the Long Market, the city's main stage. The bronze figure for the fountain was cast around 1615, and the water was turned on in 1633.
Directly behind the fountain, the spire of the Main Town Hall soars above the market. On 3 October 1556 the town hall was gutted by fire.
Turning off the market, you come face to face with the vast bulk of St Mary's Basilica, Europe's largest church built entirely from a single man-made material. It was constructed in stages over 159 years, from 1343 to 1502.
An optional stop, a recommendation rather than a riddle. There is a place near the route worth a short detour.
Szeroka Street brings you to the Motława waterfront and Żuraw, medieval Europe's largest and oldest surviving harbour crane. It acquired its present form in 1442–1444.
Mariacka runs from the basilica to the Motława — Gdańsk's most beautiful street. Raised terraces called “przedproża”, with wrought-iron railings, stand in front of the houses: in fine weather, all the street life of the merchant city bustled here.
This route is part of Metravel city quests. Below are the other quests in this city and cities with quests nearby.