Old Lighthouse in Gdańsk

Nowy Port Lighthouse in Gdańsk is a historic, decommissioned tower in the Nowy Port district, on Przemysłowa Street. Built in 1893, it guided ships into the port of Gdańsk for almost a hundred years. Today it is one of the most recognisable landmarks of the city's harbour quarter.

What does the Nowy Port lighthouse look like?

The slender tower stands almost 28 metres tall and rises above the surrounding buildings. Its brick body, topped with a gallery and lantern, recalls an era when navigation relied on lights visible from afar and on signals passed from shore. It stands out against the newer industrial buildings nearby and is easy to spot from the quay.

Where does its design come from?

The tower was modelled on a lighthouse in Cleveland on Lake Erie, built in 1871. The American original no longer exists, so the Gdańsk tower is now the lasting reminder of that design. Who exactly designed the Nowy Port tower remains unknown, which is part of its mystique.

What was the lighthouse used for?

The building served several purposes at once:

• lighthouse – its light showed ships the way into port,
• harbour pilots' tower – a lookout over traffic on the fairway and the harbour entrance,
• time-ball station – every day at noon a ball was dropped so that captains could set their ship's chronometers.

The time signal came from the astronomical observatory in Berlin. Accurate time was essential at sea for working out a ship's position, so a station like this mattered greatly to shipping.

When did it stop working?

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1984. Since then it has stood as a monument to Nowy Port's former role as Gdańsk's gateway to the sea. The time ball was restored and unveiled to the public on 21 May 2008. Today's time signal comes from the PTB institute in Braunschweig, Germany.

What else is there to see nearby?

Nowy Port is a district with a maritime, harbour feel, with historic buildings, quays and views of passing ships. The lighthouse is a natural starting point for a walk around the area. From here it is easy to head towards the beach and the harbour entrance, and photographers will find a brick tower set against sky and water.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nowy Port lighthouse still in operation? No, it was decommissioned in 1984 and is now a historic monument.

When was it built? In 1893.

How tall is it? Almost 28 metres.

What else did it do besides guide ships? It was a harbour pilots' tower and a time-ball station that helped captains set their chronometers.

Which lighthouse was it modelled on? A lighthouse in Cleveland on Lake Erie, built in 1871.

Where exactly is it? In the Nowy Port district of Gdańsk, on Przemysłowa Street.