Dirschau combines a distinctive Vistula history with an Old Town whose medieval layout has been largely preserved. The Vistula bridges are considered a special sight in the city. The Muzeum Wisły in Tczew also puts the river at the centre: it is Poland’s largest museum dedicated to the history of the Vistula. The bridges, museum and streets offer different ways to explore the history of the place.
Vistula bridges and the history of their construction
Tczew’s first road bridge was built between 1851 and 1857. At 837 metres long, it was one of the longest bridges in the world at the time. The Tczew Bridge is also internationally recognised as a monument to civil engineering: the American Society of Civil Engineers honoured it as an international monument to the discipline. Those interested in engineering will find not only a striking city landmark here, but also a story grounded in specific dates and international recognition.
Old Town lanes and art
The medieval urban layout can be read in the Old Town’s street plan, which has remained largely unchanged since the Middle Ages. The narrow streets of Garncarska, Kościelna, Podmurna, Rybacka and Zamkowa still bear their old names. Plac Hallera is the Old Town’s central square and provides a clear point of reference for this part of Dirschau.
The Parish Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is Tczew’s oldest historic building. It dates from the 13th century; its frescoes date from the 15th century. At the same time, it is both a place of worship and a gallery of medieval and modern art. A different architectural era is represented by the former Dominican Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka: built in the 14th century in the Gothic style, it has a striking octagonal tower. The city thus brings together buildings from several centuries, whose religious and artistic significance cannot be reduced to a single function.
Exhibitions, a festival and a windmill
Fabryka Sztuk presents several dozen different exhibitions each year. These include ethnographic displays as well as exhibitions of old and contemporary art. The In Memoriam Festival Grzegorz Ciechowski has been held in Tczew, the artist’s hometown, since 2002. If you would like to combine your visit with the festival, check the dates for that year’s edition in advance.
Another striking structure is the reconstructed Dutch windmill dating from 1890. Its rare five-bladed sails and rotating cap make it a distinctive feature of the Pomeranian cityscape. The windmill adds a technical landmark to the picture of Dirschau, with defining features that clearly set it apart from the Gothic churches and Vistula bridges.
Green spaces and routes
The city park covers about 15 hectares and has an amphitheatre and a concert shell. The focus of the Fortification Trail, by contrast, is the medieval town fortifications: the trail follows the route of the former 1,300-metre-long town wall, which had five gates and twelve towers. It starts on Podmurna Street and leads to a viewpoint and an amphitheatre near Rybacka Street.
Cultural and patriotic events, picnics, folk festivals and sports competitions take place at Bulwar Nadwiślański. Several playgrounds and a large castle form a combined play and recreation complex there. For cyclists, Pomorska Street is a useful reference point: the Vistula Cycle Route R9 runs along it and connects to the city’s existing cycle network. If you plan to include this section, check the current route before setting off.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Zajączkowo, Borkowo, Pelplin, Gniew, Dirschau, Lubiszewo Tczewskie, Malenin, Szpęgawa, Waćmierek, Rudno, Swarożyn.
See the main travel overview: Pomerania.
