Historically an important seaport since medieval times, the city is famous as the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, which hastened the demise of Communist rule in Eastern Europe.
Gdańsk is situated at the mouth of the Motlawa river, with access to the Vistula, whose waterway system connects 60% of the area of Poland.
The city prospered in the 16th and 17th centuries and has many fine buildings from the time of the Hanseatic League, including the main pedestrian thoroughfare flanked at both ends by elaborate city gates.