Gdańsk - Kościół św. Jana

Gdańsk is mentioned the Vita of Saint Adalbert of Prague who baptised the inhabitants of "urbs Gyddannyzc" in 997.

Later the site was a duchy of Poland. In 1224/25, merchants from Lübeck were invited Significant German influence did not appear until the 14th century, after the takeover of the city by the Teutonic Knights.

In 1300, the town had an estimated population of 2,000. Low on funds, the Pomeranian Samborides lent the settlement to Brandenburg, although they planned to give it to Poland. Poland threatened to intervene, and the Brandenburgians left the town. Subsequently, the city was taken by Danish princes in 1301. The Teutonic Knights were hired by Polish nobles to drive out the Danes.

In 1308, the town was taken by the Teutonic Knights. Primary sources record a large massacre carried out by the Knights against the population.

In 1358, Danzig joined the Hanseatic League.

After a series of Polish-Teutonic Wars, the Order had to acknowledge that it would hold Pomerelia as a fief from the Polish Crown. The city thrived as a result of increased exports via the Vistula River trading routes. While under the control of the Teutonic Order German migration increased. A new war broke out in 1409, culminating in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. The city came under the control of the Kingdom of Poland. Only a year later, with the Peace of Thorn, it returned to the Teutonic Order.

In 1440, the city participated in the foundation of the "Prussian Confederation", an organisation opposed to the Teutonic Knights. Upon the request of the organisation King Casimir IV of Poland reincorporated the territory to the Kingdom of Poland in 1454. This led to a war between Poland and the Teutonic Order.

Casimir IV of Poland granted the town the Great Privilege. With this, the town was granted full autonomy and protection by the King of Poland. The privilege removed tariffs and taxes on trade within Poland, Lithuania and Ruthenia.

Gaining privileged access to Polish markets, the seaport prospered while simultaneously trading with the other Hanseatic cities. Being the largest and one of the most influential cities of Poland, it enjoyed voting rights during the royal election period in Poland.

In the 1575 election of a king to the Polish throne, Danzig supported Maximilian II in his struggle against Stephen Báthory. Stephen became monarch but the city shut its gates against him. After the 6 months siege of Danzig in 1577 the city's army was defeated. A compromise was reached: Stephen confirmed the city's special status and its privileges. The city recognised him as ruler of Poland and paid the enormous sum of 200,000 guldens in gold as payoff.

During the Reformation, most German-speaking inhabitants adopted Lutheranism.

The "Battle of Westerplatte" was the first battle of the German invasion of Poland, marking the start of WW II in Europe.

The historic city centre of Gdansk was 90% destroyed at the end of WWII. It was reconstructed by Poles at great expense and today attracts tourists.

The construction of the three-nave Gothic church started around 1360. The building was completed in the 15th century. There was space for the tower to be built later, as well as for the vaults, which were temporarily replaced by the beamed ceiling.

The construction of the vaults and the tower was completed around 1465.

In the following centuries, artisan guilds and brotherhoods founded 13 altars, but after the Reformation, most of the altars disappeared.

In 1543 the church tower was consumed by fire. Soon there was a problem with the stability of the building. The church was too heavy, the foundation was too weak on unstable ground. In the 17th century, the chancel was on the verge of collapse and the gables were falling away from the east wall. In 1679, huge buttresses were erected on the east wall to keep it from collapsing. The structure was reinforced from the end of the 16th century, several times during the 17th and 18th centuries.

In 1680-1690, on the north side of the transept, the library of the Zachariasz Zappio Foundation was established. Other outbuildings added to the temple over time were a large sacristy and the Chapel of St. Spirit on the south transept.

In 1945 the church burned down. After the end of WWII, the burned-out church building was roofed over and its vaults were secured.
But it fell into disrepair for many years.

In the 1960s the tower was rebuilt and in the next decade, the pillars were stacked and reinforced.

Only few traces of the former frescoes have survived the times.

Like this Mouth of Hell.