August 4, 2012
To the museum!
In these first few weeks we are trying to hit as many museums in Gdansk as possible. We want to get a better grip on the history of where we live, and we want to be able to give our guests a good idea of what's what when they arrive.
Many of the museums in Gdańsk are managed under the Polish National Museum or the city of Gdańsk. There are a wide variety of offerings to appeal to a variety of interests.
So far, we have visited quite a few. Westerplatte has a small museum, but the entire historical site is like a giant outdoor museum. Below I include links to each museum's website in case you would like to read more!
In no particular order:
1. Westerplatte. See my previous post about how awesome this place is!
2. Muzeum Bursztynu (Amber Museum), Old Gate and Torture house.
This museum is housed in the original main gate house (over the moat) into the city of Gdansk. This building was a gate house, jail and torture house in medieval times. They have great examples of torture equipment and other creepy armaments of the age.
Reference: We're Knights of the Round Table!
The amber museum is my favorite so far...gorgeous examples of fossilized tree sap.
Raw specimens from all over the world, entrapped ancient insects and reptiles, historical uses, modern art, jewelry, and lamps. The perfect combination of art and science!
Fun facts:
Amber is a fairly soft fossil - on a scale of 1 to 10 - 1 is talc, 10 is diamond, amber is 2.5.
Amber is flammable! Who knew?
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Anyone of our generation will be sure to have the Jurassic Park theme song running through their head the entire visit as you search for dino-DNA.
Rosaries, earrings, pipes, flounder figurine
Whelk eggs from North Carolina and.....whelk eggs in amber?
Photo courtesy of Jo O'Keefe www.okeefes.org
Giant beer stein in amber. This thing was 2 feet tall!
3. Polish Maritime Museum. This museum is in two locations.
One part is next to the big Crane, and the other is in the old granary buildings directly across the river.
You must buy individual tickets to each facility. There are lots of old boats and of course, you get to tour the inside of the Crane. You must buy the tickets for the Crane across the river, then take a (free) ferry ride across to it.
The Crane (Zuraw) in 1945
The Crane, 2 weeks ago
The long, steep stairs to the top!
The wheels that make the pulley system go in the Crane
Very large rope and my foot (size 5.5 US) for scale
How they used to make the rope
4. Green Gate Museum (Zielona Brama) and Lech Wałęsa's office
The Green Gate Museum contains a series of rotating small exhibits.
Lech Wałęsa's office does not accept visitors. :(
Photography was not allowed in this exhibit, but it is very cool!
This is taken directly from the museum guidebook regarding this exhibit:
"Exploring the world with one's own senses, through travel, was incredibly fashionable in 16th century Europe. Travels helped one learn about the world, not only in the geographical sense, but most of all in the broad sense of learning about humankind and human nature.
Therefore, the art of travel was the art of learning about and describing the world; it inspired depictions of figures and scenes from faraway lands.
Albums, such as the one in this exhibit, were commissioned by the Gdansk Mayor Schachman, were a popular souvenir from travels to the Ottoman Empire. Over 20 almost identical collections of water colors have survived to this day. Conventional representations of people and their customs helped those who did not have the opportunity to see these lands with their own eyes to imagine them and made it easier for the travelers to talk about what they had seen in a more vivid way."
5. Museum of Ancient Art. This museum was very interesting and had a vast collection of the works of Gdansk and Dutch painters, ceramics and old furniture made in Gdansk.
Below is a part of Hans Memling's The Last Judgement.
You're going to need to click here to see the entire thing. It's huge and stunning!
I don't remember who painted this.
Classic Dog vs. Cat over a huge piece of fish!
6. Dwór Artusa - Artus Court
This is a very cool big house right along the main thoroughfare in Gdańsk (Długi Targ).
It is incredible, check out the website.
If you are into knights, sharp pointy things and times of yore, this is the place for you to visit.
This place also sports a giant wall painting by Gdańsk painter, Antony Moeller. He was infamously not paid for this piece by the Gdańsk city council. Local lore says that after he found out he wasn't going to be paid, he painted the members of the city council into a corner in the "hell" section of the painting.
Antony Moeller's version of the Last Judgement
Also on Długi Targ. This is the one with the gorgeous clock tower!
We visited here today while it was raining. They have a very nice exhibit right now on the history of the Olympics! Most of this building was destroyed during World War II, but has been lovingly restored.
One of the many gorgeous ceiling paintings in City Hall. Many of these are originals from the 1600s because they were taken down in 1943 and hidden.
If you like architecture and the study of architecture, then this is the place for you. We were also pleasantly surprised to see a small photography exhibit with photos by our new friend in Gdańsk, Zbigniew!
I saved the best for last. Dlaczego?
Is it because of their vast collection of ancient bones complete with tuberculosis and syphilis lesions?
Is it the current exhibit of pottery from Sudan?
Is it because it contains photos and artifacts from the dig site that is under our apartment building?
You decide.
Pathology! SQUEEEEE!!!!
Extensive moat system of Gdańsk, circa 1687.
Many of these moats are still present today! It's definitely romantic!
Ok, I'm exhausted from all the museums. Take a break, dear reader.
Drink a piwo. Eat some naleśniki.
Naleśniki....mmmm think huge square crepe with whatever filling and sauce you could ever imagine - this one is red bean, tomato, chicken, peppers with garlic sauce and carrot salad.
You are going to need it, because we have SIX more museums to visit in Gdańsk!
Please come visit!
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