Summer is a great time to explore the city and discover Gdańsk from a less obvious perspective. Last year, in addition to yoga, sailing, volleyball, and running, we invited you for walks around Oliwa, Zaspa, Nowy Port, and Aniołki. This year, together with the Urban Culture Institute and Local Guides, we are discovering new districts. We start after work, at 5:30 PM!
In July, we will visit Siedlce, where one of Gdańsk’s first electric trams ran as early as 1896, and Dolne Miasto, whose areas were once called Pig Meadows. Later, due to the canals running through the middle of its main streets, the district was also referred to as the Amsterdam of the North. We will also go to Biskupia Górka, whose name commemorates the former owners of the hill – bishops. It was from here in the 17th century that a horse-powered cable car transported earth needed for the construction of Gdańsk’s fortifications.
Three walks and a wealth of history await us, easily overlooked when traversing Gdańsk by well-trodden paths. We invite you!
SIEDLCE | JULY 17 | 5:30 PM
Discover the secrets of the district located in the shadow of Gdańsk’s modern fortifications! Why was Siedlce so often destroyed? Why was one of the city’s first electric trams launched here? Where did NSDAP members meet, but also members of the Gdańsk Polish community? Discover the secrets of Siedlce.
DOLNE MIASTO | JULY 23 | 5:30 PM
Did you know that Gdańsk was Paris? And Dolne Miasto was the Polish Amsterdam? Angels lived here, but you could also encounter monkeys, bears, and pigs. We have unique sites here on a Polish and European scale, which we will explore more closely while walking along the bastions and main streets of Dolne Miasto.
BISKUPIA GÓRKA | JULY 27 | 5:30 PM
Discover Gdańsk’s Montmartre hidden on a steep hill! Did you know that from here kings and invaders decided the fate of the city? Why did horses fly above the ground here in the 17th century, and where did the legendary star observatory disappear to? Uncover the secrets of cobbled streets that survived the turmoil of war.
Lokalni Przewodnicy i przewodniczki
These are daily walks off the beaten path, during which residents of Gdańsk, with passion, knowledge, and commitment, guide us through the lesser-known corners of Gdańsk. The list of routes, expanded over the years, now includes nine districts: Oliwa, Orunia, Dolne Miasto, Nowy Port, Biskupia Górka, Wyspa Sobieszewska, Zaspa, Aniołki, and Siedlce.
Each walk is conducted according to the guide’s original script. During the walk, you can learn about the local nature and architecture, discover the history of the district, and peek into its secret places usually known only to residents. The guides talk about literary inspirations or artistic themes related to a given place, and their narratives are often seasoned with personal touches. The walks allow you to experience the city from a different perspective. Sometimes, the stories told by the guide surprise even the oldest residents of the district. Tourists, in turn, appreciate the “insider” knowledge of the guides, which reveals the atmosphere of the place and allows them to delve deeper into the city’s specifics. More about Local Guides…
The project organizer is the Urban Culture Institute – a self-governing cultural institution that creates events for and with the participation of residents. Its goal is to increase the role of culture in city life and develop local identity. For more events, please visit www.ikm.gda.pl.
Strategic Patron: Stary Ziomek i Morze
Media Patrons: Radio Gdańsk, Prestiż Magazyn Trójmiejski, Trojmiasto.pl
Partners: Plama GAK, Stowarzyszenie Biskupia Górka, Opowiadacze Historii Dolnego Miasta w Gdańsku, Od Wyzwolenia do Wolności, Stacja Orunia GAK, Fundacja Wspólnota Gdańska, Wyspa Skarbów GAK, Rada Dzielnicy Aniołki.
