Conquer the Jerusalem Bastion

While it is true that there is no longer a medieval castle in Gdańsk, you do find a defensive complex in the very centre of the city, situated on natural morainic hills. Grodzisko Fort is as much as 27 hectares in total, situated above the Central Bus and Main Railway Stations, closed in by Nowe Ogrody, Powstańców Warszawskich, Generała Dąbrowskiego and 3 Maja streets. The area was used for defense purposes as early as the 12^th century, but the urban complex as we see it today is mainly made up of buildings dating back to 1867-1874, which have, for the most part, survived in a practically unchanged state. During its history, Gdańsk, Prussian, French, German and even, for a short time, Soviet units were stationed in Grodzisko. The fortifications have protected Gdańsk, for example, from the Swedish Deluge.

It is worth starting the walk around Grodzisko from its most important part, i.e. the Jerusalem Bastion, with its highest point and at the same time the best vantage point - the Hail Mountain (Góra Gradowa), from which you can see the Main Town and the Shipyard area. It is best reached by crossing the park in 3 Maja St. On ascent, you will pass some brick bunkers, covered by earthen embankments and connected via underground tunnels which stretch across the whole area of Grodzisko, linking particular buildings with each other. On your way towards Powstańców Warszawskich St., you pass an impressive fort gate with the former guardhouse,  the Napoleonic Reduit with an observation tower (the most magnificent of all Grodzisko structures) and the middle and southern caponiers. The entire area is covered in greenery and on your way, you can sit down on a bench. The defensive complex also included numerous buildings which are also worth seeing and which today sometimes serve altogether different functions: an artillery coachhouse (today: a residential building) and the military school (now the Employment Office) in 3 Maja St., or the remand centre in Kurkowa St.

Grodzisko is also seat of the Hewelianum centre, located in renovated former fort interiors at the Hail Mountain, a popular science centre aimed at children and teenagers, though not exclusively.  Apart from historical exhibitions, cyclical events are held to promote knowledge in the fields of physics, astronomy, history or biology.

www.hewelianum.pl

Source: M. Baran, P. Gulda "Do it in the Tri-City! Alternative guide". The bilingual guide you can buy in Cultural Shop.