Seize Gniew

uu Worth Seeing: uu The history of Gniew Both the development and growth in importance economic of the town came with the Teutonic Knights in 1282 – when they captured Gniew. It was their first property on the left bank of the Vistula river. Knights of The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem (or for short Teutonic Order) began building a huge castle and fortified settlement.

In 1297 the settlement received urban rights. In Polish times (1466–1772) the castle was a seat of subprefects, including one of the most famous – Jan III Sobieski, further the king of Poland. Sobieski played huge role in the town’s rapid development. As a result of the first partition of Poland in 1772 Gniew together with Pomerania was annexed in Prussian. Gniew returned to Poland on 27 January 1920. The tragic period began with the outbreak of the II World War. Fortunately after the expulsion of Germans from Poland the town was rebuilt and reorganized very soon. It has ups and downs. The biggest economic boom was in the 70’s and at beginning of 90’s the restoration works of castle were started.

Authors of photographs: Piotr Rzyski, Krzysztof Kuca, Krzysztof Mania, Marcin Lipiński Text: Magdalena Frost, English translation: Joanna Diller Graphic Project: Studio A (studioa@onet.pl)

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Panorama of Gniew – unique in Europe The Castle in Gniew The biggest events: International Knight Tournament – Vivat Vasa (includes historic performance Two Vasas Battle – 1626) Archaeological Museum in Gniew Old Town with the biggest complex of historic tenements in Pomerania Town Hall in Gniew St. Nicholas church in Gniew Marian Shrine in Piaseczno Museum of the Polish Peasant Movement in Piaseczno St. Apostles Peter and Paul church in Opalenie St. John church in Pieniążkowo St. John church in Wielkie Walichnowy Cemeteries of the Mennonites in Wielkie Walichnowy and Polskie Gronwo Natural reserves: Opalenie Dolne and Opalenie Górne, Wiosło Małe and Wiosło Duże Forestry Board of Education in Pólko Opalenie and the Centre of the Environmental Education in Ciepłe Tourist routes: – the Lower Vistula Valley (Nowe – Tczew) – Grzymisław trail (Tczew – Nowe) – the River Wierzyca (Gniew-Pelpin) – Opalenie trail (Mała Karczma – Opalenie) – Dębińskie Woods (Mała Karczma – Opalenie) Leisure complex, Forest Museum, Mini Zoo In Brody Pomorskie Ecological areas: Trzcinowisko in Ciepłe, Parowa in Ciepłe, Borawa in Kuchnia, Strzelnica in Gniew Watering places: Rakowiec, Półwieś, Pieniążkowo and Tymawa Tennis courts

Seize Gniew

Urząd Miasta i Gminy Gniew Plac Grunwaldzki 1, 83-140 Gniew tel. 58 535-22-55 do 58, fax 58 530 79 40 e-mail: promocja@gniew.pl www.gniew.pl, www.zamek-gniew.pl

Gniew – a town situated in the southern part of Pomerania, between rivers Vistula and Wierzyca. Its story is connected with historic days of Pomerania. The town’s name Gymeu appeared in written sources for the first time in 1229, but numerous settlements existed here much earlier.

uu The Teutonic Fortress

uu Fabulous streets

Gniew castle is the largest fortress of Teutonic Order on the left bank of the Vistula river. Since 1992 the castle is opened to the tourist and historical performances and knight tournaments are regularly organized here.

The Gniew castle attracts tourist and knights from the whole Europe.

Visiting Gniew there is no way to pass over two streets – Piłsudskiego street and Sambora street. Piłsudskiego street leads to the market square, in this street every tenement is specific and unique. Sambora street is situated outside the main town’s square and has a fairytale character. There are bungalows, which are rare examples of dwelling housing.

uu The town’s heart Another historically and architecturally valuable place is the heart of the town – marketplace. Around cobbled square there are old tenements.

The most beautiful – tenements with arcades before the entry are located in the west part of the marketplace. Monumental tenements with arcades have great value not only for Pomerania but also for Poland. Most of the buildings were built in the medieval times and the traces of its history can be find in partly preserved cellars, groundsills and inner wells. Despite damages and housing needs they were rebuilt and they are serving housing functions.

uu Town walls still keep secrets uu The Town Hall Centrally in the marketplace there is the town hall with a stylish arcade before the entry. It was built in the 14th century on the plan of square with an inner courtyard and a tower in the south part of the building. During Swedish wars the town hall was partly destroyed and in modern times it was rebuilt many times. The oldest part of the building are gothic cellars.

The building from its origins is the set of local authorities.

uu Saint Nicholas Church In the north – west corner of the market square there is a parish church.

It is the only sacred building in Gniew, others evangelical church and synagogue were knocked down. The oldest part of the church, chancel comes from 14th century and side chapels were built in the end of 16th century.

The greatest impression make altars, organs, ambo and baptistery. Ecclesiastical equipment comes mostly from 19th century, however there are few older, valuable objects as baroque chasuble from the 17th century. According to legends it was a gift from the queen Maria Kazimiera Sobieska.

Near the church there is a statue of the Saint Johan Nepomucen from 1738.

The legends says that it was founded by the pastor of Gniew, Jan Goertz to redeem his blames against the Catholic Religion. There is an inscription that confirms this fact, unfortunately it is partly effaced.

Gniew, which used to be a strategic place of the Teutonic Order, was surrounded by defensive walls. The town walls had massive towers, three outer town gates (Gdańska, Malborska and Wodna) and one inner (Zamkowa). Through ages poorer population of Gniew began building on to the walls little houses, which are preserved up to this day in the streets Górny Podmur and Dolny Podmur. When, in the 19 th century the battlements lost their origin functions, some of them were knocked down. But those that remain, still keep secrets and treasures of Gniew.