Thinking about Gdansk it is hard not to acknowledge the important pages of history written in this city. Among many historically important events, one of the most significant in the modern history of Poland, Europe and the World is the Solidarity movement. Gdansk was the place, where “the wind of change” started at the end of 20th century.
Divided Europe
After the World War II, Europe was divided into two main areas: Western and Eastern blocks. Poland was under the influence of the Soviet Union. As an answer to social and political changes in Poland, people started to protest. Starting from 1970 the protests started to be more and more intense.
The beginning of Solidarity
The Solidarity Trade Union was established in 1980 under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa – the later president of Poland and a receiver of the Nobel Peace Prize. It was a broad anti-bureaucratic social movement, which used civil resistance to obtain workers’ rights and social changes.
Wind of change
Strikes in 1980’s which were organized by Solidarity movement became one of the key factors of falling of the Soviet Union. This chain of events was later named the wind of change. Strikes in Gdansk were proceeded by the Round Table Agreement and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
European Solidarity Centre
The European Solidarity Centre is a museum which was created to commemorate the opposition movements of the Eastern block. This interactive musem was opened in 2014. Inside the building there is the permanent exhibition which consists of around 2000 exhibits. Apart from this, there are temporary exhibitions, conference space, a library and a research and academic centre. There is also a possibility of meeting President Lech Wałęsa in person, who has his office in the building.
Opening hours and tickets
The center is opened from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in the ticket office inside the building and the price of the regular ticket is 17 PLN. There are additional discounts and offers so the price per person may be lower. You can find out more about tickets here:
http://www.ecs.gda.pl/title,,pid,123.html
