‘Postcard from Poland: A walk down Gdanska Street’
City of Bydgoszcz in Poland, downtown cityscape. Source: Getty Images
I’m currently living in the medieval Polish city of Bydgoszcz (pronounced ‘bid gosh tch’). My apartment is just a few meters from Gdańska Street, Bydgoszcz’s main street. I walk down this street almost daily either to buy groceries, visit one of the many trendy cafes or restaurants, or simply to breathe in some of the sights and history of this remarkable and beautiful street. Come for a walk with me and I’ll show you.
First, let me explain the origin of road construction of this street dates back to 1448 by the Teutonic Knights of this part of Europe. It’s thought they also founded the city. At one end of the street is the Brda River in the middle of town, while the other end vanishes into endless forests. The street connects the Old Town Road with the northern areas of Bydgoszcz. The city was an important inland river port.