Adam Mickiewicz Park in Gdańsk-Oliwa

Park Oliwski (Oliwa Park) is a historic park in the Oliwa district of Gdańsk, set along the Oliwa Stream. It covers 11.3 hectares and is named after the poet Adam Mickiewicz. It is one of the loveliest places to stroll in the Tri-City area, and a living record of several centuries of garden design, from a monastery garden to Rococo and English-style landscapes.

How did Oliwa Park come about?

The park's beginnings are tied to the Cistercian monastery garden. The form that largely survives today was given to it under the last abbot of Oliwa, Jacek Rybiński (1701–1782). He commissioned the gardener Kazimierz Dębiński, whose French-inspired Rococo layout can still be seen in the southern part of the park.

After Rybiński's death the grounds passed to the Hohenzollern-Hechingen family, who kept expanding them. They added a Chinese garden, English-style sections and botanical gardens. In the 19th century the park was opened to visitors. A labyrinth and pavilions from that era have since disappeared. The rock garden appeared around 1910.

What to see in the park

• The French garden in front of the Abbots' Palace. This Baroque layout is the best-known part of the park. Rows of lime trees form a sightline called the Princely View, running around the pond and canal.
• The Rococo section in the south. Dębiński's work from the days of Abbot Rybiński, preserved to this day.
• The rock garden. A later addition from the early 20th century, with plants growing among stones.
• Greenhouses and the Palm House. A modern glass building that complements the historic layout.
• The Whispering Caves (Dionysus' Ears). Southeast of the Abbots' Palace, a curiosity that children and adults both enjoy.
• The Oliwa Stream. It flows through the park and shapes its character: water, small bridges and green banks make a calm, picturesque scene.

Planning your visit

Oliwa Park suits a relaxed walk of an hour or two. It pairs well with Oliwa's other landmarks: the cathedral famed for its organ and the Abbots' Palace. Together they easily fill half a day. In spring and summer the greenery and blooming plants make the strongest impression, in autumn the park turns into an avenue of colourful leaves, and in winter it is quiet and almost empty. The paths are friendly to families with children and to older visitors, and benches in the shade invite a rest.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Oliwa Park? It covers 11.3 hectares.

Where is Oliwa Park? In Gdańsk, in the Oliwa district, along the Oliwa Stream.

Who created the park's present layout? Much of it goes back to Abbot Jacek Rybiński and the gardener Kazimierz Dębiński, who designed the Rococo section in the 18th century.

What are the Whispering Caves? A park curiosity, also called Dionysus' Ears, southeast of the Abbots' Palace.

Is there a palm house in the park? Yes, a modern glass palm house stands on the grounds.

Who is a visit for? Lovers of history, gardens and quiet walks, as well as families with children.