Gdansk - the river and Royal Way

I have a whole bunch of disordered pictures taken as I wander at various times around the riverbank area and along the Royal Way - the path the Royal family traditionally took when entering the city - so will focus on these two thoroughfares in this post.

Gdansk is on the coast, but has an elaborate river system. The riverbank I am talking about is on the river that runs up and down, with the little island - that’s where the maritime museum Granaries are. The Royal Way runs to that river, through the old town.

The river is lined with a great collection of buildings on the city side and very modern ones on the other side.

I don’t know this when I go to the maritime museum, but there’s a bridge at the top end of the island - it rises to let boats through for half of every hour. This movement attracts a small audience every time, including me.

This is a party boat which runs out to the river mouth - it is very popular: I read of some travellers wanting to hop on and they were told the tickets sold out days in advance.

The Royal Way started in the west and terminated at the river, at the so-called Green Gate - which is not green, well not entirely. On Independence Day (11 November), there is some beautiful singing to listen to.

This is going back up the Royal Way, heading west - going past Neptune’s Fountain, with Artus Court (a mansion in which dignitaries would stay) behind it.

I believe the clock tower is on the city hall.

St Mary’s Church (or the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is the second largest brick church in the world. It is possible to climb up more than 400 steps, some very steep, to get a view from the top - I have seen a video of people climbing those steps: that’s enough for me!

I think this is on the Royal way as well - it comes to an end at a big market square - but I don’t actually know what it is.

Looking at my photos, I think I should have been a bit more organised in taking them - I have nothing from the western end - there’s an Upland Gate/Prison Tower and a Golden Gate, as well as the square. My basic problem with Gdansk is that I’d see something cool off to the side and get distracted - like a pub with boeuf bourguignon, an interesting window in a Mexican restaurant or cute dogs.

Cheers!