It might surprise you that the history of Jews in Gdansk, or Danzig, dates back to the 11th century. On this exclusive tour you will discover the hidden history of Jewish merchants, mediators, lawyers and other professionals who built a strong community in the city before World War II. Discover the traces of Jewish heritage in Gdansk.
On the 2-hour tour, your Private Guide will show you around Wrzeszcz district, which is a cultural center for the local Jewish community. You will see the only remaining synagogue in the city, the New Synagogue, but you will also learn about the Great Synagogue, which was completely destroyed under the Nazi regime. The guide will share interesting stories about the local Jewish history and culture, from the Middle Ages, through the General Privilege, World War Two, to present day.
Another point of interest will be the University of Technology, whose architect and the first vice-chancellor was Albert Carsten. The scholar worked at the university until 1933 when he was fired due to his Jewish origin. Through stories like this, you will be able to understand how the Nazi ideology spreading across the German-occupied Poland has severely damaged the local Jewish community even before the official beginning of WWII, forcing many Jews to emigrate. You will also learn about the Kindertransport, a rescue effort that saved some of Gdansk’s Jewish children from persecution. The last stop of this tour will be the historic Jewish cemetery in Chelm, which is one of the 3 cemeteries which served the local Jews in Gdansk.
Choose the 3-hour option to visit the New Synagogue and learn more about the local Jewish community. Built in 1926-1927 based on the design by Berlin architects Imberg and Friedman, the synagogue is a simple and practical place of worship. Inside, you will learn about the activities aimed to keep the Jewish heritage alive in the city, and see a small exhibition on the history of 20th century Jews of Gdansk.
Choose the 3.5-hour option to enrich your Jewish experience tour with a visit to the Jewish Cemetery in Chelm. Dating back to 1694, it is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Poland. It survived WWII intact but has suffered from mindless vandalism and destruction after 1956. Nevertheless, it is an important place of Jewish heritage with a few sandstone headstones that tell the story of Gdansk’s Jews.
