The bricks of Gdansk

As I was strolling along the pier Dlugie pobrzeze next to the Motlawa river, I was admiring the Hanseatic buildings of Gdansk. These majestic facades of brick and mortar have sheltered the inhabitants for centuries. Or have they?

The amazingly rebuilt houses at Dlugi Targ.

Actually, most of the old city was subject to severe destruction during WW2. The buildings were later rebuilt during the 1950s and 1960s, but the historical German architecture was rejected and replaced by Dutch-style buildings.

The iconic Żuraw Crane, first mentioned in 1367.

Some things escaped the destruction, such as the Żuraw Crane, the only surviving surviving twin-tower gate in the city. It was first mentioned back in 1367, later replaced by a new structure in 1444. The wooden section burned in 1945 and there was some damage to the walls. But it was fully restored in 1969 and today it acts as a museum.

Along the pier.

Even though most of them are reconstructions, it’s still a marvel to wander along the pier and admire the buildings.