Top Cities / Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot / Environs
information rom: www.shopandsee.eu
The Seal Centre (Fokarium, Hel Peninsula)
The Seal Centre is a part of the Marine Station – a field research station of the Institute of Oceanography University of Gdańsk where a project of the reproduction and protection of grey seals in the region of the southern Baltic Sea is realized. The centre has existed since 1999, though the activity in the interest of seals’ protection was undertaken already at the moment when the first charge – Balbina appeared.
This took place in 1992 because the last day of March that year a young grey seal male was found on the beach in Jurata. It is a scientific and breeding centre thanks to which in the future seals will settle again in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. What is more, at the same time it is also a centre of the rehabilitation of ill and weakened seals. Cured seals are set free, likewise the young offspring of our raising pod of seals.
address: The Seal Centre (Fokarium), Marine Station
Institute of Oceanography University of Gdańsk, 2 Morska Street, 84-150 Hel
tel. (058) 675-08-36, fax. (058) 523-55-27
www.fokarium.com hel@univ.gda.pl
Shifting sand dunes (Słowiński National Park)
Shifting sand dunes in the Słowiński National Park are one of the greatest curiosities in Europe. The biggest moving ones are called 'White Mountains' and they are situated between Łeba and Rowy; they are 45 metre high. You can approach this place by means of a tourist trail through the highest dune called Łącka Góra. The moving sand creates shaky dunes about the height of 30-45 metres. The sand covers lively seaside forests, swamps and even human settlements at the same time uncovering the remains of once filled up trees- the so called 'burial grounds'.
The moving pace of the dunes is not the same everywhere. The western and eastern part of Mierzeja Łebska is occupied by parabolic dunes which move about 3 metres a year. The majority of these dunes were forested. The central part of a spit, between the Łebsko Lake and the sea, of length about 5 km and width of 1 km, is occupied by barchans and barchans- like dunes moving with the speed of 2-10 metres a year.
In consideration of its uniqueness and the variety of its natural scenery, in 1977 the Słowiński National Park was registered on the world list of UNESCO biosphere reserves.
Gniew Castle
The Gniew Castle was the greatest fortress of the Teutonic Order on the left bank of the Vistula River. Built at the turn of the XIII and the XIV century, it was home to the Order’s leaders, whereas when the town belonged to Poland, it was the main office of local administrators. It was reconstructed several times in the XIX century (a granary, a prison), however, the castle was ruined by the Great Fire in 1921. During the years 1968-1974, the FAMA Ship Machinery Works in Gniew started the first stage of the castle’s reconstruction completed by laying the ceiling over its top floor, constructing the building’s roof and covering the roof with ceramic tiles.
Within the framework of social works, in 1992 the Council of the Town and Commune of Gniew began the second stage of the castle’s redecoration. The redecoration consisted in constructing the ceilings in the west and east wings, adapting the interior and reconstructing the chapel as well as adapting the Castle Hill to serve tourist purposes.
‘The upside-down house‘
‘The upside-down house’ was built in the village of Szymbark in Kaszuby on the area of the Centre for Education and Regional Promotion. Soon the building entered by the top window is going to be equipped with furniture and appliances coming from the Socrealism period, also assembled in a similarly unusual way. It has always been a dream of the project’s originator, a businessman from Kaszuby Mr. Daniel Czapiewski, to construct a replica of such a building in Berlin. This would remind the world that Poland was the country that started the inversion of the order at that time in Europe. The creators of this house are doing their best to have the house registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. Persons standing normally at least for a while in the ‘upside-down house’ claim that it is a source of quite strange feelings as the up and down point of reference is quickly lost.
address: Centre for Education and Regional Promotion in Szymbark
12 Szymbarskich Zakładników Street , 83-315 Szymbark
reservation: tel. (058) 684-69-33, tel. 0605-570 637
Żuławy arcades (Żuławskie podcienie)
The most characteristic monuments of Żuławy are arcade houses. They have been built in the skeleton construction filled with a special type of brick called Dutch brick. They are an excellent example of the first settlers’ ambitions and possibilities. Each of the households was indicated with a property mark composed of a combination of lines and circles. The host’s wealth was shown by the number of the arcade beams that is the floor exhibition supported by a few wooden pillars at the front.
more info: www.shopandsee.eu
Żuławska Suburban Railway (Żuławska Kolej Dojazdowa)
The Żuławska Suburban Railway is a narrow gauge railway connecting Mikoszewo, Jantar, Stegna, Sztutowo and Nowy Dwór Gdański. From the train you can see many beautiful landscapes of Żuławy.
You are very welcome!
The Association of Żuławska Suburban Railway
29 Dworcowa Street, 82-100 Nowy Dwór Gdański
(+48)055-247-36-72
www.evl.pl