There are many reasons for coming to Gdańsk. For instance, to see not only Gdańsk, but also its surroundings which offer many attractions.
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One of the most important attractions can be found at Malbork, 50 km from Gdańsk. Malbork was founded as a settlement around a castle the erection of which started in 1274, when the Order of Teutonic Knights came to this land. In the course of about 30 years a small castle was built and it was named Marienburg, which means Mary's City.
In 1309 the Great Master of the Order, Siegfried von Feuchtwagen moved his residence from Venice to Malbork and thanks to this the castle and the city became the capital of the Teutonic state. Due to new needs the castle was extended. Thanks to its redevelopment which lasted for almost 40 years the initial castle was transformed into the part which is now called the High Castle. It was surrounded with moats and walls and was used as a residence of the Great Masters and the highest-ranked Teutonic officials.
The Malbork Castle is regarded as the biggest gothic stronghold in Europe. It was added to the world's cultural heritage list maintained by UNESCO in 1997.
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When we leave Gdańsk and drive for a dozen or so kilometres we enter a land of lakes, forests and picturesque moraine hills. It is the Kashubian region. It covers the areas stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Tuchola Forests. The Kashubian region is famous not only for its rich nature, but also for its culture and traditions. The tourist attractions include, among other things, an open-air ethnographic museum in Wdzydze Kiszewskie, a Museum of Kashubian Ceramics in Chmielno and the highest Kashubian mountain in Wieżyca.
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The Hel Peninsula with Jastarnia, Jurata, Kuźnica, Chałupy and Hel constitutes a mainstay of the Kashubian fishing tradition and a popular summer holiday resort for Polish people.
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One cannot forget about our closest neighbours: Sopot and Gdynia. Everyone has heard about the famous Sopot pier, the Forest Opera (Opera Leśna) with its annual song contest, "Monciak" (Monte Cassino Street) and the beach. It is also worth going to Gdynia to see the museum ship - Dar Pomorza- and the Gdynia Aquarium.
There is also the picturesque Żuławy region, the Vistula Spit, the castle in Gniew, and many, many more.
Gdańsk is a sea of possibilities indeed.
