Mariacka Street

Mariacka Street (ul. Mariacka) is a short cobbled lane in the Main Town of Gdansk, in Poland's Pomeranian region, running from behind St. Mary's Basilica down to the Motlawa river. It is regarded as one of the most atmospheric streets in the city, lined with tall terraced houses whose raised stoops, called beluarts, project into the roadway and are decorated with carved stone details, benches and railings. Gargoyle-like drainpipes in the form of dragons and other creatures stick out from the stoops, adding to the street's character. The houses were reconstructed after the destruction of 1945 and follow the form of the original 17th-century merchant residences. Mariacka is best known for its amber jewellery workshops and galleries, since Gdansk is a centre of the Baltic amber trade. Shops here sell rings, pendants and loose stones, and some of the workshops show craftspeople at work. Small cafes and restaurants occupy other ground floors, and some have outdoor tables on the stoops in warm weather. Visitors can walk the street in a few minutes, but a visit of about 30 minutes allows time to browse the shops, look at the stoops and enjoy a drink. The street is open at all times as a public lane, and amber shops typically open from 10:00 to 19:00. For photographs, the best view is from the river end looking up towards the tower of the basilica, or from the middle of the street looking at the pattern of stoops. Early evening is a favourite time, when street lamps light the cobbles and the crowds thin out. In summer the street can be congested at midday, particularly when cruise passengers and tour groups arrive. Mariacka is about a 10 minute walk from Gdansk Glowny railway station and lies between the basilica and the river, so it fits naturally into a walk that includes the Gdansk Crane.