Sights of Sopot, Poland: description, history and interesting facts. G
28.12.2016
When planning a trip by car to the Polish cities of Gdansk or Sopot, it will be useful to find out information about parking in these cities, free, paid, cost and some nuances.
In the city center, parking lots are located on almost all main streets, near attractions and in places of greatest demand. But you need to know that almost all of them are paid here.
09.11.2016
The city of Sopot is a resort town and small, only about 42,000 thousand people permanently live in the city. Therefore, there are not so many attractions in the city, but they are all beautiful, very well-groomed, some are even funny and look more like entertainment than an attraction in the truest sense of the word.
In this article we will talk about the sights of the Polish resort town of Sopot. In addition, we will indicate a dream that is not included in the list of city attractions, but it is still worth seeing.
06.11.2016
In the same article, we just want to post photos of the city.
To tell the truth, we like most of all to post such posts with photos of the streets of ordinary life of the city and people. It seems that this is the only way to truly see and know the life of cities “from the inside”.
04.11.2016
The main square of the city of Sopot, it is also central, is located in the heart of the Old Town.
This spacious square is the main city square where celebrations and concerts are organized.
For such a small resort town as Sopot, the central square is quite impressive. In the center of the square there is a restaurant with an open terrace.
04.11.2016
The street is completely pedestrian and closed to vehicle traffic. Therefore, it is so pleasant to walk along it, especially with small children.
Monte Cassino Boulevard is not long, you can walk all of it in half an hour. On both sides of the walking alley there are houses of old Polish architecture, cafes, pubs, galleries, cinemas, restaurants and a bunch of various shops, from the smallest to small, by the standards of modern cities, shopping centers. Decorative trees with green crowns of amazing beauty are planted along the street. Under the planted trees there are benches for rest. In general, the entire walking alley Montyak is the old town of Sopot and its very heart.
30.10.2016
The park of Maria and Lech Kaczynski is small in size, green, with recreation areas and a children's playground. The park is planted with many trees, various shrubs, there are flower beds. The park is also equipped with beautiful lanterns.
If you are tired of the sun after visiting the beach, then this beautiful park will be a great place where you can sit on a bench in the shade of spreading treetops.
22.10.2016
The resort square of one of the most beautiful Polish cities of Sopot (Polish name Skwer Kuracyjny) is a semicircular square with pedestrian alleys extending from it.
The square is the central resort place of the city. Walking along the alleys of the square, you can easily get to the coastline of the Baltic Sea with a sandy beach.
In general, the square is the ground part of the pier, the largest in Europe ...
21.10.2016
One of the main attractions of the city is undoubtedly its beaches and the sea. The beach in Sopot is very clean and wide, with fine and soft sand, more than four kilometers long. All these four kilometers are equipped with beach cabins, urns, observation towers and wooden decks, which you can use to get to the sea and beaches from almost anywhere in the city. There are many beach volleyball courts on the beach.
By the way, the beaches of Sopot have been considered the most organized and safest seaside resorts in the Pomeranian Voivodeship for several years now.
At the height of the tourist season, water slides are placed along the beach line, water sports and beach equipment rentals are open, showers work, as well as charming little bars and cafes. For an additional fee on the beach you can always rent...
20.10.2016
The parish patrons are St. George and Our Lady of Czestochowa. The Czestochowa Icon of the Mother of God, according to legend, the face of the Mother of God, is a miraculous icon of the Mother of God, painted by the Evangelist Luke. This is one of the most famous and revered shrines in Poland and Central Europe. Due to the dark shade of the face, the icon is also known as the Black Madonna.
In general, the Poles are very religious and treat sacred places, churches and parishes with trepidation. For them, these are sacred places of solitude, where the soul approaches the creator. Therefore, talking loudly, making noise, walking in large groups or taking flash pictures in God's houses is considered bad form, an insult and disrespect to the saints. If you talk or take pictures in church, of course, they won't kick you out, but...
19.08.2016
Walking along the streets of Sopot, a small town located on the Baltic coast of Poland, our attention was drawn to the building of one of the city's hospitals.
It seems that the building does not represent anything special, but it simply fascinated us with its architecture. You look at it, and you get the impression that it is not an array of stone and concrete at all, but a light airy marshmallow or a birthday cake.
Once, after the Second World War, the lighthouse building belonged to this health resort. However, in 1975, the infrastructure of the hospital was modernized, after which the lighthouse became only a burden for the medical institution and was...
Photos of the sights of the Polish city of Sopot. Bohaterov Boulevard Monte Cassino, Wooden sea pier in Sopot. By train from Gdynia to Sopot. Baltic cruise on MSC Orchestra.
When I was considering Gdynia through the Google Earth application, it even became surprising to me - why do they bring cruisers here at all?
Polish city Gdynia is an ordinary industrial port town. Having made my way from the port to the station, I did not feel very uncomfortable, and a spoiled package tourist would have completely disappeared on these streets .. For transportation, it is better to choose a bus or a taxi.
Ships moor at the cargo port, and there is no cruise terminal there. Wasting precious time here was pointless, and rummaging through the Internet, I found two more interesting cities where to go. These cities were Sopot and Gdansk.
City of Gdansk is the sea capital of Poland, the center of culture, science and tourism. For many centuries Gdansk played one of the main roles in trade between Northern and Western Europe. AT Gdansk you can see delightful historical interiors, comfortable hotels and restaurants, bathing beaches and sailing routes. Museums and theaters, opera and philharmonic, youth entertainment discos and cinemas are open.
But as today's goal, I chose a Polish city called Sopot. According to the timetable, the train to Gdansk I walked 30 minutes one way, and in total it took a whole hour on the road, which I could not afford.
I immediately remembered our Alla Borisovna with the song “Kings Can Do Everything”, which ascended there into the starry sky, back in 1978.
Before leaving, I found where I found out the schedule of local trains. Our short stay was just enough to inspect Sopot, unless of course we move clearly according to plan and without delay. I just had to bring this plan to life, for which I set about.
Sea resort of Poland - the city of Sopot
At 7 am, May 13 MSC Orchestra arrived at the cargo port of the city Gdynia. By that time, I had already had breakfast and was ready to implement my plans, for which I had little time.
This day was not happy with the weather, it was windy and clouds were gathering in the sky. But such trifles could not stop me, because today my plan is to visit a magical place - the city Sopot.
The disembarkation took place a little earlier than planned, and at 7:45 am I was already walking along the streets of Gdynia. I looked at the prices for a taxi to Sopot - the cost is 30 €, which seems to be not expensive if you go with a company.
I had to walk to the station, and I noticed a couple who got off the ship with me at the same time, and were heading in the same direction where I needed to. They walked so confidently that I decided to follow them, and by 8:15 I was already standing at the railway ticket office at the station.
I got up at the first available cash desk, and in the course of the queue, I noticed that there were no Visa / Mastercard payment system stickers on the glass. It strained me, since I didn’t have the local currency - the zloty. So I lost a little time - from this cash desk I was redirected to Cashier N1, where it was possible to pay by card. The cost of a train ticket to Sopot is PLN 3.7, and departure is at 8:45.
The couple I followed to the station turned out to be Germans, and they were going to go to the city Gdansk. It seems that they have never heard of Alla Borisovna and the magical place of Sopot, well, okay - why do I need competitors. Everything went according to plan for me, I got on my train and at 8:59 I was in Sopot.
Almost immediately upon arrival, heavy rain began, and I ran to hide in the nearest cafe. There I sat for about 40 minutes, praying to God that the bad weather receded, and to my happiness the rain subsided.
Boulevard Bohaterov Monte Cassino
Going outside, I found myself on the famous Street of Heroes in Sopot (Bohaterów Monte Cassino). This is the most famous street in Sopot, where many pubs and galleries are located, and in the summer you can watch street theater performances and performances of musicians.
Early in the morning the street was not crowded, all the pubs and galleries were closed.
By "Montyak" I headed towards the sea, and went to the longest wooden pier in Europe.
“The length of the longest pier in Europe, crossing the Sopot beach, is 511 meters. A place for organizing entertainment and walks, with a berth for tourist ships and water taxis. Here you can buy tickets on the route Sopot - Westerplatte - Gdansk and Sopot - Gdynia»
The entrance to the pier is fenced with a barrier with a turntable, the entrance fee to the mall is PLN 7.50. You have to buy a ticket at the box office, but I still didn’t have any zlotys, and I was offered a ticket for 2.5 €. A very good place for walking, with clean and pleasant sea air. Near the entrance to the pier there are souvenir shops, with mountains of amber and handicrafts from it.
Forest Opera - Opera Lesna
Time was inexorably coming to an end, and I still had ahead of me the main point of the program "In the footsteps of Alla Borisovna" - a visit to the town of Lesnaya Opera (Opera Lesna). The place where, back in 1978, with the song “Kings Can Do Everything,” Alla Borisovna ascended Olympus.
« Opera Lesna is an open-air amphitheater, under a canopy. According to experts, this is one of the best places in terms of acoustics in Europe. The auditorium is designed for 4,400 visitors, and the orchestra pit can accommodate 110 musicians. Concerts of classical and popular music are held here.»
And as sad as it is for me to write about it, I never got to this opera. While walking around the mall, I reached the beach - here my time was already up.
Return trip to the MSC ship
On the Street of Heroes I skipped to Church, and there, as the navigator wrote, it was 1.5 km to the Forest Opera. My return train was in 15 minutes (at 12:00), and of course I didn’t have time to go anywhere, which was very disappointing. Arriving at the station, I was horrified - there was no train at 12:00 on the scoreboard, but there was another one - at 12:33. I had to get on board the MSC Orchestra at 13:30, and I was pretty nervous, because the time was very close.
The Polish city of Sopot is located on the Baltic Sea between Gdansk and Gdynia in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Although the city of Sopot is one of the most prestigious resorts, there is an affordable vacation for any tourist. In this city, you can enjoy not only numerous sights, but also improve your health thanks to the sea and therapeutic baths.
History of the city of Sopot
The city of Sopot was mentioned for the first time in 1283. But in 1773, the city was burned down.
As a result of the struggle for the royal title between August III and Stanislav Leshchinsky. After Poland was partitioned, Sopot fell under Prussian rule. For the first time, Wegner tried to open the beaches in Sopot, it was in 1819. He built a small building on the beach with bathtubs for bathing, and also installed changing cabins. But his efforts did not bring success to Wegner. For the first time, Dr. Jean Georg Hafner managed to open a bathing enterprise in 1823. The area has been actively developing and gaining popularity as a great place to relax.
The city steadfastly survived the times of the First World War, but during the Second World War, the inhabitants of Sopot suffered, especially the people of Jewish origin. In the spring of 1945, with the participation of the Red Army, many buildings were destroyed, and a large number of civilians died. At the end of the war, Sopot, together with the city of Gdansk, again became part of the Polish state.
City places for entertainment
Those who love active recreation will definitely find something to do here. In the city there is an opportunity to go in for sailing sports, as well as windsurfing. There are special schools in Sopot where you can learn different kinds of sports. And then you can participate in various sports competitions. In addition, there are many equipped tennis courts, golf courses, bicycle paths. You can have a good time in the large water park, which has five swimming pools, three of them are covered, that is, you can swim in them all year round. In addition to the pools, the water park also has many fun attractions, a massage room, a solarium, a sauna, a cafe and a bowling alley.
Sights of the city of Sopot
Since this is still a resort town, there is not a very wide variety of attractions here, but still there are places that you simply cannot pass by. We will tell you more about some of them.
It is also called the dancing house. This is a pretty modern attraction, which was built in 2004. This interesting and unusual building has become a distinctive symbol of the city. The house is on the list of fifty unusual houses in the world, it is part of the Resident shopping center. The crooked house is so unusual that literally everyone immediately catches the eye. The house has its own walk of fame, all the famous personalities who have been in it can leave an inscription on its hay.
This interesting museum is located in a beech forest, it is a branch of the Gdansk Archaeological Museum. The museum was founded in 1907. Since then, the number of museum exhibits has increased significantly. In the ninth century, a horseshoe-shaped structure was built here, and it has surprisingly survived to this day. Also, the remains of ancient residential, wooden buildings have survived to this day. As for the exhibits, there you can see various household items, clothes of medieval times, ancient jewelry made of wood and amber. And in the museum itself there is an opportunity to shoot from a bow, learn medieval skills, and all this with amazing ancient music.
Sopotski, they say, is the longest pier on the Baltic Sea. It was opened in 1827, the length of the pier reaches five hundred meters. It starts from the middle of the beach and goes into the sea. Every year you can sleep here for a fun festival, city events and concerts. From this place you can clearly see the sea competitions, and there is also a great place for walking. A walk along the Sopot pier will give you not only moral satisfaction, but also a beneficial effect on your health, since at the end of the pier, the concentration of iodine is twice as high as on land.
This lighthouse was built in 1904, when it shone for seven miles at an interval of about four seconds. The height of the lighthouse, which is made of red brick, reaches thirty meters, its roof is made in the form of a pyramid with windows. After the war, although the lighthouse worked properly, it was declared obsolete and was no longer used for its intended purpose. But still, tourists visit the Sopot lighthouse with great pleasure, as it offers an excellent panorama.
Paul Walter-Schaeffer founded this Forest Opera in 1909. He picked up a very unusual place for the opera - a foundation pit among the wooded hills. Success was not long in coming, since after the first performance there were so many profits that it was enough to pay off not only the artists, but there was still more. Since that time, the opera began to work annually. It can accommodate up to five thousand guests. The orchestra pit is designed for a hundred people. The area of the Forest Opera is 4 hectares. The opera has the appearance of an open amphitheater and excellent acoustics. The song festival is held here in the last decade of the month.
Other sights of Sopot
It will be no less interesting to visit the Spa House, the Sopot City Museum, the Sierakovsky Manor, as well as the Town Hall and the Small Theater Stage on the coast. There are very interesting places in Sopot that will remain in the memory of tourists for a lifetime.
Wellness in Sopot
The city of Sopot has the status of a health resort, since since 1999 there has been a Northern baths and a balneological center. And the Baltic coast itself is saturated with oxygen and iodine, so even a simple, calm walk along the coast has the most beneficial effect on the body. Also in the city there is a unique source of St. Wojciech, where you can drink healing mineral water.
Cuisine in Sopot
Of course, since this is a resort town, the cuisine here is quite diverse. But still, it will be interesting to look at least once into an institution with national cuisine. In general, there are no dishes typical for Sopot, but each restaurant has its own unique recipe. For example, you can try a soup made from porcini mushrooms or liver sausages stuffed with buckwheat porridge, they are called kashenki, also, of course, Polish beer. And yes, since this is a seaside town, the abundance of seafood will please you.
Sopot is a resort town on the Baltic coast, where you can not only have fun, but also enjoy the beauty of local attractions, as well as improve your health.
Greetings!
I continue the cycle of reviews about travels in Polish cities and villages. Last time I said about historical Frombork , and today I will show everyone a popular European seaside resort on the Baltic coast - Sopot city.
This name can often be heard in conjunction with two other cities located in the north of Poland - Gdansk and Gdynia. Why?
Sopot is located between Gdansk and Gdynia, forming an agglomeration with them Tricity (Triple City, Tricity), which is actually a single city with a total population of about a million people (whereas about forty thousand live in Sopot itself).
Note for moderators - the collage is made up of a self-made photo and google maps, followed by processing in a graphics editor.
In Poland, my husband and I travel by car, as we live not far from the Russian-Polish border - from our habitat to Sopot, 180 km. As it turned out, it is quite possible to travel around the Tricity over the weekend. First, we drove to its farthest point - Gdynia, in the vicinity of which we spent the night, and then, returning, we first visited Sopot, and then Gdansk. Previously, I also had to visit these cities, but separately, but this time I managed to put together a complete picture - "three in one".
Sopot is the smallest city in the agglomeration, but it looks like a toy: neat streets, lovingly planted flower beds, fountains... Everything is done to please the eye of both an ordinary resident and a suffering traveler.
On such a bright sunny day, everything looks especially elegant, the mood of people is upbeat and restful. There are many parking places in the city, but there are even more people who want to leave their "wheels", so I had to turn around to find something.
This is the main square of the city, from which the pedestrian street begins:
Making my way through the dense stream of tourists, I was barely able to take a couple of shots. The pedestrian zone is full of cute houses and ends with an old church (it is difficult to find a place in Poland where there is not at least one restored (and at the same time active!) Historical religious building):
The funniest object on the pedestrian street, with which everyone takes pictures, is the Crooked House (Krzywy Domek)
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Looking at him it seems that his own eyes are dancing. Due to the abundance of tourists, I did not manage to catch a digestible frame, so I show a photo more than ten years ago - I took it on one of my last visits to the city and carefully keep it in my photo album all this time:
All this is good, but what is Sopot really famous for? Why do tourists so insistently go there, even for one day? The fact is that...
The longest wooden sea pier in Europe is located in Sopot. Its length is 515.5 meters.
Actually, Sopot is visited in order to stroll along this famous pier, far out into the sea. It is he who is the main attraction of the city and attracts like a magnet. We were no exception and also reached out to the pier. On its eve, by the way, there is also something to rejoice at - everyone will like the square with a fountain and beautiful turrets:
There are a lot of people who want to get to the pier, so in the season (from late April to September) the entrance to it becomes paid. A ticket for one adult costs 8 zlotys (about 140 rubles).
After scanning the tickets, we finally get to the wide pier. The spectacle is massive! Along it stretch endless benches made of wood, covered with impeccably white paint:
The pier offers a particularly picturesque view of the Baltic coast. On a fine day, visibility is excellent, and in the distance you can see many ships and yachts plying the waters. Their festive appearance creates a resort mood, and it begins to seem that you are not in Poland, but somewhere closer to the south, in the Mediterranean:
From the pier, a strip of the city beach is also clearly visible. Despite the fact that our walk around Sopot took place in the middle of May, it was very hot, like in summer, and many people hurried to soak up the sand.
The only pity is that the water was just in the flowering stage, so it did not look the best way - solid yellow-green algae. None of the inhabitants dared to swim, not only for this reason, but also because the Baltic Sea is still very cold at this time of the year (under favorable weather conditions, it warms up only by July-August).
The path to the end of the pier is really not close, because it is more than half a kilometer long. Under the scorching sun, doing it is not so easy. But on the edge you can buy a ticket for a pleasure boat (about PLN 20-30) ... And it’s especially nice to watch the ships go into the distance, into the open blue sea ... At such moments, I understand that I don’t live in vain in the Baltic, and I could not go far from the "big water" - I just need to be able to come to the sea every now and then, think, dream. Our union with him is like marriage: in sorrow and in joy.
Barely alive from the scorching sun, long pier and endless tourists, we went on. Our next stop will be Gdansk, which I will talk about a little later. Well, Sopot, perhaps, I can call the most "relaxing" city in the Tricity, which is a must-see when traveling through the northern part of Poland. I sincerely advise (but still not in season). Moreover, it will not require much time, but it will certainly give you positive emotions.
Thank you for attention!
******************** Thank you for stopping by!
I am glad for each of you ******************************
Sincerely, Catherine.
Sopot is a small, but at the same time quite popular resort town in Poland, with a population of just over 40 thousand people. It is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. This is one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in the Baltic.
The city is considered a "health resort" of the whole of Poland, thanks to iodized sea water, healing salt water springs and ancient baths. Sopot is a small city. All of its sights are very close to each other, a turn of the head is enough. Inspection of the monuments will not take you even a day, but all of them will leave an unforgettable impression on you for long winter evenings.
The most famous attraction, both in Sopot and throughout Poland, is the pier. The longest wooden pier ( 511.5 m.) Europe was built in 1827. The original length of the structure was only 150 m, but over time it was increased by more than 300 meters. A significant part of the pier, more than 458 m, is located in the sea.
Boats and sea taxis moor here, vacationers walk, cultural and entertainment programs, exhibitions and concerts are held. Sopot Pier bears the name of John Paul II, who visited these places several times, and is a recognized architectural monument of the city.
One of the attractions of Sopot is on the list of "The most unusual houses in the world." It was built by two architects - Zalevsky and Shotinsky in 2004. It is located on the main street of the city.
The building houses two radio stations, trading floors, a restaurant and a room with slot machines. Also inside there is a kind of "Walk of Fame", like the American one, only it is called the "Wall of Glory". All the more or less famous people who have visited Sopot leave their autographs on the "Wall of Glory".
Location: Bohaterów Monte Cassino - 53.
One of the favorite tourist attractions in Sopot is the lighthouse. Its observation deck offers a wonderful view of the entire city. The lighthouse was built in 1904. The height of the tower reaches 30 m. It illuminated the sea waters until the beginning of the Second World War.
Then the building was transferred to the city hospital, and the lighthouse ceased to function. In 1980 it was restored. But due to the lack of modern technical equipment, it was decided to permanently close the lighthouse. Now it serves as a viewing platform for visitors to the city.
Location: Plac Zdrojowy - 3.
The center of Sopot is the building of the Church of St. George, past which vacationers can walk several times a day. The church is crowned by a long, slender Gothic tower with a spire. It was built in 1901. King Wilhelm II and his wife Augusta Victoria should be thanked for this. Until the end of the war 1941-1945. The building was used by Protestants. He then bore the name of the "Temple of the Savior." It is now owned by the Roman Catholic Church.
Location: Tadeusza Kościuszki - 1.
One of the controversial, in terms of beauty, sights of Sopot is the Yas Rybak fountain. Some of the townspeople like him, but some consider him ridiculous. However, everyone agrees that soon the fountain will be considered a real hallmark of the resort. It was built after the end of the war, where the city hotel used to be. The statue of a fisherman with a basket of catch, which was installed between the jets of water, is a copy of a sculpture that once stood in the garden of one of the villas.
Not far from the longest wooden pier (pier) in Europe, there is a huge, majestic "Grand Hotel". This palace was built in 1927 for gamblers, and it was called the "Casino Hotel". In 1933, one of the representatives of the city government lost all his money here and committed suicide. It was one of the biggest scandals of the 20th century. in Poland.
Famous politicians of that time, movie and music stars, the richest and most influential people in the world stayed in this majestic place. It is noteworthy that in the "Grand Hotel" there are no chambers under the superstitious number "13" for many. And in the famous "General's" room, redesigned specifically for the gigantic growth of General Charles de Gaulle, anyone can stay, if, of course, they can pay for it.
Location: Powstańców Warszawy - 12/14.
In the vicinity of Sopot, in the Olive Forests valley, there is a small park called the Forest Opera. It is known for its extraordinary acoustics. In 1909, an open-air theater was built in this place, where various festivals began to be held. Over the following years, the stage was constantly reconstructed and modernized. Now it is a large concert hall designed for 5,000 spectators and more than 100 musicians. It is in this park that the annual "International Song Festival" is held.
The Church of the Savior is an architectural structure unusual for the city, built in the Art Nouveau style. Initially, it was planned to build it by 1913. However, the outbreak of the First World War forced the construction to be postponed. It was completed only in 1919. The church was intended for Protestants living in Sopot. During the war, the building was badly damaged, but did not stop working. This church is the only one in the Tricity (Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia) where evangelistic services are held.
Location: Parkowa - 5.
"Fortification in Sopot" is a unique museum located in the open air in the forest. During excavations, amber and bone jewelry, household items made of iron and ceramics, and traditional outfits were found here. In the museum you can not only look at all these treasures, but you will also have the opportunity to try your hand at archery. You will be taught the traditional craftsmanship of the Middle Ages and will be given to listen to ancient music.
On the territory of the museum there is an ancient fortress in the shape of a horseshoe. It was built in the 9th century. All things that were found on this earth during the excavations are exhibits of this museum.
An interesting church is located on the seashore, not far from the majestic Grand Hotel. It bears the names of two patron saints: the Virgin Mary and Andrei Boboli. The church consists of two buildings. The first is an old chapel (1870), the second is a modern hall for services (1988). Inside, you can admire the wooden statue of Christ on the crucifixion (15th century), the image of the Virgin Mary (16th century) and the fresco of Skura S, an artist of our time.
Location: Powstańców Warszawy - 15.
If you get tired of the scorching sun and want to relax on a bench, in the shade of dense foliage of trees, you can look into the park “im. Maria and Lech Kaczynski. It is named in honor of the President of Poland and his wife, who tragically died in a plane crash in 2010 near Smolensk.
The park is located on the embankment, near the Sopot Pier and the lighthouse. The park is small, but it is quiet, calm and beautiful here. While young vacationers will play on the playground, adults will be able to relax on the benches, to the sound of water from small fountains.
