St. Mary's Church, Gdansk

St. Mary's Church, Gdansk (must see)

The formal name for Saint Mary's is Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Between 1536 and 1572 the church had been used jointly by Catholics and Lutherans. From the late 16th century until 1945 it was the second largest Lutheran church in the world. The church has been Catholic since 1945.

The church is an aisled hall church with transept. It is 346 feet long. The nave is 217 feet wide. It can hold up to 25,000 souls at one time. The first stone for the church was laid in 1343. It so happened to be the feast of the Assumption. The original basilica had six bays and a low turret. It was finished in 1360.

The current building was started in 1379 by architect Heinrich Ungeradin. The primary building material was brick. This was common to Gothic style churches of Flanders and the Netherlands. The church was finished and the tower raised by 1466. The nave core and vaulting was done by 1500, just in time for the Protestant Reformation.

No serious structural changes were carried out under Lutheran auspices. There was heavy damage to the church during World War II. Restoration began again in 1946. The church is frequently called the "Crown of Gdansk." It is considered to be the largest brick temple in Europe and the finest among the towns of the old Hanseatic League.

Inside the church is a wealth of medieval artifacts. There is a stone Pieta from 1410, and a copy of The Last Judgement made in 1472 by Hans Memling. An astronomical clock made in 1467 by Hans Duringer is here. The main altar was built in 1510-1517. The church does hold services. It is open to visitors year-round.

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St. Mary's Church on Map

Sight Name: St. Mary's Church
Sight Location: Gdansk, Poland (See walking tours in Gdansk)
Sight Type: Religious
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
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
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