This impressive mansion, a symbol of the city's power in the 16th and 17th centuries, served as an exchange and as the seat of St. George and the brotherhoods of rich patricians. Founded as a meeting place for merchants and dignitaries, it was named after King Arthur, of round table fame, and hosted many a noble guest. Following a fire in 1841, it was given a more Gothic form, complete with ostentatious sculptures and paintings illustrating man's merits and vices. Inside, the centrepiece of the main hall is a 10.64-metre renaissance tiled stove dating to 1546, made of more than 500 individual tiles and the tallest of its kind in Europe. Its adornments portray leaders, coats of arms and allegorical figures.  Just to the left is a small pewter surface that claims to be the oldest table in Poland. Two stone lions protect the entrance to the cellars of the court. Try to pick up one of the different language cards that are lying around.
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This magnificent four-arched gatehouse on the waterfront was built as a palace for Polish monarchs. No Polish king ever stayed in the building, but Lech Wałęsa has his office here: you'll see his nameplates on the walls of the gate. The gate leads to the Green Bridge, whi [...]

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Picturesque ul. Długa is one of the city's oldest thoroughfares. From the Golden Gate which protects it, the gently-curving street opens into an array of colourful burgher houses, roccoco portals, gothic mouldings and original porticoes. The house numbers run in opposite directions on either side, a feature typical of old Gdańsk streets. N° 12 houses a Museum of Burgher Interiors. N° 71 is one of the few structures on the street to survive World War II and still bears original mouldings from the second half of the 15th century. N° 28 is Dom Ferberów (Ferber's House), dating to 1560, with magnificent sculptures and the three familiar coats of arms. N° 29 has an interesting crew of Roman emperors peering from its baroque façade. King Władysław IV entertained local dignitaries at Lwi Zamek (The Lion's Castle) at N° 35; two lions guard its portal. The house neighbouring it dates to 1563 and is a splendid example of the influence of the Dutch renaissance on Gdańsk architecture. The renaissance house at N° 45 belonged to the Schumann family and is sometimes called the House of the Polish Kings (Dom Królów Polskich); figures of Greek gods stud its alcoves. The eastern end of the street is dominated by the tall, slim tower of the Town Hall. [...]

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This 16th century gate, the main entrance into the Old Town, was the original starting point for the Royal Way. It was here that the Polish king was welcomed and given the keys to the city. The gate was originally surrounded by a 50m moat and was named for its 'upland' location above the wa [...]

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