Description of the attraction
Churches have always played an important role in the life of the city of Gdansk. Among the many old and interesting buildings of the religious cult, the largest brick church in Europe stands out - the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), also called Maryatsky. It is the second largest cathedral after Cologne. Its length together with the tower supports is 105 m, the height of the vault reaches 29 m, the height of the tower is 77.6 m.
This huge church was built for 159 years, in several stages, in the interval between 1343-1502. The interior of the Gothic temple, equipped with an observation deck, can accommodate up to 2,500 people at a time.
Lancet windows that recede into the sky like comets, sharp spiers covered with patina, extraordinary openwork towers, and chiseled phials make numerous visitors and tourists capture every detail of it. The architectural forms of the Royal Chapel in the Baroque style with a facade and three domes, erected by the will of the Polish king Jan Sobieski, are also magnificent.
It is worth paying attention to the many striking works of art in the interior of the church: the stone figure of the Virgin Mary in 1410, a copy of the Last Judgment triptych of 1472 by Hans Memling, the richly decorated Ferber main altar of 1510-1517, made by the German architect Michel Schwarz. Numerous paintings and statues from the Baroque and Middle Ages add variety to the austere interior of the Gothic cathedral.
Hans Dühringer's extraordinary world-famous astronomical clock from 1464-1470 is a mechanism that indicates dates, holidays and lunar phases. At noon, figures of three kings, twelve apostles, Adam and Eve from the Old Testament appear on the dial, and a figure - a symbol of death, the frailty of all things.
During the storming of Gdansk in 1945, the church was almost not damaged. Only part of the vaults was damaged, but restored in the post-war years.
Climbing 400 steps, from the upper gallery of the bell tower you will have an amazing view of the city.
Maryatskaya Street, on which the Maryatsky Church is located, is one of the most beautiful streets in the city. It ends with the Maryatsky Gate of the Middle Ages. This street is an example of old Gdansk buildings with richly decorated, narrow facades of houses belonging to jewelers and wealthy merchants. The picturesque design of the street has always inspired writers and painters. Maryatskaya Street is a favorite filming location for filmmakers. It houses jewelry workshops, as well as numerous shops where you can purchase works of art made from natural amber, made by contemporary craftsmen.
