Gdansk Crane (Zuraw)

The Gdansk Crane (Zuraw) at Szeroka 67/68 is a medieval wooden port crane standing on the Motlawa riverfront in the Main Town of Gdansk, in Poland's Pomeranian region. It is the largest surviving structure of its kind in Europe and one of the most recognisable symbols of the city's maritime past. For centuries the crane lifted ship masts into place and loaded and unloaded cargo, using a large treadwheel operated by people walking inside it. Two brick towers frame the timber structure and give the building a distinctive silhouette against the water. Today the crane is a branch of the National Maritime Museum, with exhibitions on the history of the port, shipbuilding and trade. Visitors can see how the lifting mechanism worked, walk through the timber interior and read about the role of the harbour in the wealth of Gdansk. The building was heavily damaged in 1945 and rebuilt afterwards, so the exhibits also tell the story of reconstruction. A visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Hours are Tuesday 09:00 to 17:00, Wednesday 13:00 to 17:00 with free entry, and Thursday to Sunday 09:00 to 17:00. The museum is closed on Monday, and last entry is 60 minutes before closing; visitors should confirm at nmm.pl. A ticket costs 23 PLN and a reduced ticket 17 PLN. Good photographs are taken from the opposite bank of the river, from the quay in front of the building, and from the Green Gate end of the waterfront. Crowds are heaviest at midday in summer, when tour groups and river cruise passengers pass by, and on the free Wednesday afternoon. Weekday mornings give more space inside the narrow timber galleries. The crane is about 15 minutes on foot from Gdansk Glowny railway station, and the Green Gate is three minutes away.