The city of Danzig has one of the most important Baltic ports. For centuries, its docks have seen the passage of countless goods and people who came to the city to exchange all kinds of goods. Since ancient times and thanks to the large area of forest surrounding the city, Gdansk has been a privileged place for the construction of merchant and war ships.
During the 19th century and much of the 20th, the city had some important shipyards at the service of Prussia first, and the German Empire, Nazi Germany and Poland later. During the years of Nazi occupation, between 1939 and 1945, the Danzig shipyards produced parts for the Kriegsmarine. Specifically, here was one of the most important torpedo assembly plants for the famous U-Boots.
After World War II, the shipyards continued to operate under the leadership of the new Polish communist regime. During the 1970s and 1980s, it was in these shipyards that the independent Solidarity union was formed and managed to defeat the communist regime thanks to its repeated mobilizations and strikes.
The shipyards no longer exist, but where they used to be there is now an imposing ship-shaped building where you can find a small exhibition on communism in Poland, a large exhibition on the Solidarity trade union and other facilities for cultural activities, as well as a library, a bookstore and a restaurant. To find out the opening hours you can visit the official website of the Solidarity center.
How to get to the European Solidarity Center
The building of the European Solidarity Center is located in the old shipyards of Gdansk. To get there it is best to do it by public transport. You can check the tram map at the following link.