Mariacka Street, Gdansk

Mariacka Street, Gdansk (must see)

Mariacka Street takes its name from Saint Mary's Church. The cobblestoned street is short and narrow, lined with old burgher houses with mini-terraces, gargoyles and fantastic beasts. It lies between the church and Saint Mary's gate by the river Moltawa. The gargoyles guard against evil and spit rainwater away from the walls.

The medieval spirit is alive on Mariacka Street. The original wooden church at the end of the street was founded by Swietopelk II, Duke of Pomerania in the 13th century. The original name of the street says in Latin: "Our Lady's Street."

Saint Mary's Gate, the 15th century water gate, is at the opposite end of the street. The gate bears the coats of arms Gdansk and Prussia and Poland. Mariacka Street was once the home of workshops and stalls. The burgher houses are embellished with scenes from the Bible, e.g., The Dream of Jacob, the Annunciation, and the Good Samaritan.

Gdansk is the home of Baltic amber and Mariacka Street is the go-to street in Gdansk for amber. The most well-known and respected dealers in amber will be found here. Looking for the best coffee? You are in luck. Some of the best coffee shops and cafes are here as well. Let's not overlook Wine Bar Literacka, it has over 100 wines and fine food.

Next to Saint Mary's Gate is the Archeological Museum with its viewing tower. During Saint Dominic's Fair for three weeks in August, the street is crowded with tourists, bands, cartoonists and vendors. Many times however, Mariacka Street appears empty, pensive and serene.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Gdansk. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Mariacka Street on Map

Sight Name: Mariacka Street
Sight Location: Gdansk, Poland (See walking tours in Gdansk)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Gdansk, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Gdansk

Create Your Own Walk in Gdansk

Creating your own self-guided walk in Gdansk is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Gdansk's Historical Churches Tour

Gdansk's Historical Churches Tour

Gdansk has a long history of Catholicism, hence the abundance of spectacular churches here. Let's delve into some of the most impressive temples that grace the cityscape and see what they are.

Saint John's Church, a Gothic masterpiece, stands tall in the heart of Gdansk. It dates back to the 14th century and features impressive brickwork and intricate details. Its towering spire is a...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour

Gdansk Introduction Walking Tour

The most probable source for the name, "Gdansk" seems to be "Gdania", the ancient name of the river Motlawa. Gdansk began with agriculture and fishing and trade with Pomerania in the 9th century. It was annexed by Mieszko, Duke of Poland, in 975.

The center of town was the Long Market, with its craftsmen. German merchant settlements grew by St Nicholas Church. Gdansk joined...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Solidarity Union Walking Tour

Solidarity Union Walking Tour

For decades, the word 'Solidarity' (Polish: Solidarność) has been synonymous with the city of Gdansk. The peaceful Solidarity revolution, started here in the August of 1980, marked the outset of the fall of communism not only in Poland but also throughout Eastern Europe.

Stemmed from the country's first free labor union born out of strikes at the Lenin Shipyard (now the Gdansk...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles