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Gda?sk Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot, which cover a strip of coastline along the Gulf of Gdańsk, make up a conurbation known as the Triple City. Gdańsk was founded on an ancient trading route called the Royal Way (Via Regia). In 1922, when Poland had access to only a short stretch of the coast, a decision was taken to build a new port, Gdynia, that would compete with Gdansk, which at the time was a Free City outside Poland. After the Second World War Gdańsk and Sopot returned to Poland and the three municipalities quickly evolved into one huge metropolis. With their excellent transport connections, Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia are unique in Europe, being at once three seperate municipal structures and one mega-city with three large, strikingly different environments. Gdańsk With its thousand years of history, Gdańsk is one of the ldest and most beautiful cities in Poland. Some even claim it's the most beautiful.Gdańsk is an unforgettable place. Once you've seen it, you will always remeber it as a fairy-tale city with narrow-fronted, gabled houses and fancy church towers that surprise you with the chimes of their bells. You can't describe it without talking about its people, a unique mixture of descendants of those who came here after 1945 from all over Poland, Kashubia and the East, their mild variety of local patriotism allowing them to accept strangers without falling into chauvinism or provincionalism. Gdańsk is to be discovered in stages. First, you have to stroll around the charming Glówne Miasto (Main City) containing all the major historic buildings. The 16th-century Brama Wyżynna (Upper Gate) and Złota Brama (Golden Gate) open onto the Droga Królewska (Royal Progress Road). The fine, slender houses lining the street once belonged to the wealthiest merchants and notables who entertained the kings of Poland. This was also a place of public executions, balls, auctions and parades - the heart of Gdańsk. And it's still the heart of the city. Ulica Długa and Długi Targ are the focus of Gdańsk's public life, and you can spend many hours here savouring their charm.Admire the opulent buildings with their lavish interiors: the Gothic-Renaissance town hall, the 14th-century Artus Court, the Złota Kamienica (Golden House) with the richest façade in the city. This is also the location of the famous Neptune Fountain - the most widely recognised symbol of Gdańsk. Traditionally, sailors visited it to thank the sea god for allowing them to return safely home. The first bronze figure of Neptune was put up here in 1615; a few years later a fountain was added . In 1980 Gdańsk became the cradle of the Solidarity movement, led by Lech Wałęsa. Solidarity made a major contribution to the fall of Communism in Poland and Europe.