Great Mill (Wielki Młyn)

The Great Mill (Wielki Młyn) is a large brick industrial building on the Radunia Canal at ul. Wielkie Młyny 16, in the Old Town of Gdańsk in Poland's Pomeranian region. It was built by the Teutonic Order in the 14th century, and for centuries it ground grain for the city, using the power of the canal. It worked as a mill until 1945, when the war ended its operation, and it stood for decades as a rebuilt landmark before being adapted to new use. Today the building houses a covered shopping and dining hall, with shops, cafes and restaurants beneath its high brick walls and steep roof. The historical character of the mill remains very much visible: the massive masonry, the wide timber-framed roof structure, and the position over the canal give a sense of the scale of the medieval economy of Gdańsk. Visitors typically spend 30 to 45 minutes walking through the hall and the surrounding area. Shops generally open around 10AM and close at about 8PM, although individual opening hours vary, and the building itself can be entered free of charge. Outside, the Radunia Canal, which was dug in the 14th century to bring water from the Radunia river to the city, runs past the mill and gives a pleasant waterside walk. Good photo angles are from the bridges over the canal, which show the long brick facade reflected in the water, and from the side of the nearby St. Catherine's Church, whose tower is visible beyond. Afternoon is the best time for both light and for a meal, while weekends in the summer can be busy with shoppers. The mill stands about ten minutes on foot north of the Main Town and is reached by tram or bus to the Wielkie Młyny stop. It makes a good short stop between the Main Town and the Old Town churches, and an easy place to shelter from rain.