Biskupia Górka – the historic district of Gdańsk with a new face
- Damian Brzeski
- Aug 17
- 25 min read
On the hill from which the siege of Gdańsk was carried out for centuries, today you can hear the bustle of strollers, the sounds of festivals and the clatter of heels on the cobbled streets.
Biskupia Górka – once isolated, neglected and forgotten – has undergone an extraordinary transformation, regaining its historical splendor and gaining a new, artistic soul.
How did it go from being a fortress and a city outpost to becoming a place that Gdańsk residents call the "Gdańsk Montmartre"?
The history and significance of Biskupia Górka
Biskupia Górka's identity is inextricably linked to its topography. The hill, dominating the city, has determined its fate from the very beginning, making it, alternately, the seat of ecclesiastical authority, a key strategic point in Gdańsk's defense system, and finally, a place of everyday life whose history bears witness to the turbulent history of the entire region.
The beginnings and development of the district over the centuries
The history of Biskupia Górka dates back to the early Middle Ages, and its name is a direct testimony to its original owners.
The first mention of "Górka" (Latin: Mons ) appears in a document by Duke Mściwoj II from 1277, in which the ruler promised the bishops of Włocławek a waiver of fees for their estates. It was the granting of these lands adjacent to Gdańsk to the church that initiated the history of settlement on the hill.
Soon a wooden manor house was built here, which served as a residence for church dignitaries during their visits to the city.
The prestige of this place increased at the end of the 14th century, when Bishop Zbylut decided to build a new, brick residence.
Its importance is evidenced by the fact that in the years 1391-1392 it was visited by the Earl of Derby , the future King Henry IV of England.
However, this period of glory was short-lived. In 1414, in revenge for the clergy's support for the Polish side after the Battle of Grunwald, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights
Michał Küchmeister ordered the manor house demolished. This event, though destructive, permanently cemented the hill's name.
In a document from 1438, confirming the boundaries of the bishop's estate, the name Bishop's Mountain ( Mons Episcopalis ) appears for the first time, which in later centuries was transformed into the German form Bischofsberg .
Over the centuries, a settlement developed at the foot of the hill. From a few farmsteads, it grew into a small village in the 15th century.
Neighboring settlements were also established, such as Piaskownia , from where the material for the construction of the Main Town was sourced, and Czarne Morze , whose name came from a clay pit filled with dark water.
These areas, serving as an economic base for Gdańsk, gradually gained importance.
The place of Biskupia Górka in the history of Gdańsk
A central element defining the historical role of Biskupia Górka is its strategic location . The hill, overlooking the city, provided an ideal point for artillery fire, making it key to the capture of Gdańsk.
This military pattern has manifested itself many times over the centuries. As early as 1433, Czech Hussites were using the hill's positions to support Poland in its war against the Teutonic Order.
In 1520, during the subsequent Polish-Teutonic War, an attempt was made to attack the city from here. The most famous example, however, was the siege of Gdańsk by King Stephen Báthory's forces in 1577, when royal artillery, stationed on Biskupia Górka, conducted intense bombardment of the city walls.
The recurring threat led the Gdańsk authorities to realize that the only way to secure the city was to incorporate the hill into their fortification system. The impetus for action came from the escalating conflict with Sweden.
In 1626, King Sigismund III Vasa personally encouraged the fortification of the hills in a letter to the City Council. Soon after, work began that forever changed the landscape of Biskupia Górka, transforming it from a suburban church estate into an integral part of the mighty Gdańsk fortress.
This military character determined its development for the next two and a half centuries, and its remains are today one of the most important elements of the district's heritage.
Brunon Zwarra and his memories of the district
No figure is as inextricably linked to 20th-century Biskupia Górka as Brunon Zwarra (1919-2018). A writer, historian, and documentarian, and above all, a true Gdańsk resident, he became the most important chronicler of life in the district during the turbulent period of the Free City of Gdańsk.
His monumental, five-volume work "Memories of the Gdańsk Bówki" is an invaluable source of knowledge about the everyday life of the Polish community in the German-dominated city.
Zwarra was born and spent his childhood and early youth in Biskupia Górka, living successively in the now-defunct tenement houses at 2 Biskupia Street and 46 Na Stoku Street.
His memories paint a vivid picture of the district – a place bustling with life, full of small shops and workshops, but also full of ethnic tensions. He described the activities of Polish organizations, to which he belonged, such as
The Catholic Youth Men's Association and the Gedania Sports Club , where he played soccer. His accounts provide a unique testimony to the lives of the Polish minority, their struggle to maintain their identity and culture in an increasingly hostile environment.
Zwarra's legacy extends far beyond its literary merits. His work was an act of preserving the memory of a world irrevocably destroyed by World War II.
Therefore, the grassroots social initiative that led to the unveiling of a monument-bench featuring the writer in December 2024 has a deep symbolic meaning.
The monument, situated in the heart of a revitalized district, near the site of his family home, is not only a tribute to Zwarra himself, but also an act of restoring and perpetuating the Polish history of Biskupia Górka.
In this way, along with the renovated facades of the tenement houses, the memory of the people who created it is incorporated into the public space.
The history of Biskupia Górka is marked by a fundamental paradox: its strategic military importance was both the driving force behind its development and the cause of its subsequent, long-term isolation and neglect.
It was this elevation above the city that made it so valuable from a military point of view that led to its fortification in the 17th century, which transformed it into a restricted civilian zone for hundreds of years.
This military function, although diminished in the 19th century, left a lasting mark on the district's character. Even after demilitarization, Biskupia Górka remained on the sidelines of the city's main development trends.
The construction of Aleja Armii Krajowej in 1974 physically cut it off from the rest of Śródmieście, deepening its isolation and contributing to social and economic degradation in the post-war period.
As a result, the very feature that historically determined its importance became the source of problems that the district struggled with for most of the 20th century and which are only now being overcome thanks to comprehensive revitalisation.
Fortifications and the military past
The landscape of Biskupia Górka is a living textbook on the history of European fortification. For over 250 years, military engineers shaped its topography, constructing successive layers of fortifications to protect Gdańsk from increasingly powerful artillery.
These monumental defensive structures, although they have long since lost their original function, still define the character of the district.
The Crown Work and its Bastions
In response to the growing threat from modern artillery, a massive complex of earth fortifications, known in military terminology as the Crown Work ( Dzieło Koronowe ), was built on the top of Biskupia Górka in the years 1628-1634.
It was a fortification system consisting of three main, protruding bastions, connected by curtain walls (ramparts) that formed a defensive front resembling a crown.
The main elements of the defense system are three bastions, whose names have survived to this day:
Savior's Bastion (Salvator): Named after the nearby Church of St. Savior in Zaroślak.
Intermediate Bastion (Mittel): Located in the center of the defensive line.
Ostroróg Bastion (Scharfer Ort): The northernmost.
This system was complemented by a smaller demi-bastion on the north side, called Vigilance .
These massive earthworks, although now largely overgrown with trees and shrubs, have retained their original shape and are an impressive testament to 17th-century military engineering.
Barracks Redoubt – from a military facility to a university
In the 19th century, when Gdańsk was under Prussian rule, the defensive system of Biskupia Górka was modernized. Between 1828 and 1833, the monumental Koszarowa Redoubt ( Barracks Redoubt ) was built on the site of the former Swedish rampart.
It was a self-sufficient brick fortress, designed to be able to defend itself independently even after the enemy had captured the other fortifications.
The architectural importance of the building is evidenced by the fact that its classicist interior design was approved by one of the most outstanding German architects of that era,
Karl Friedrich Schinkel .
The structure, constructed in a trapezoidal shape, consisted of three wings of casemate barracks with bombproof ceilings, which could accommodate two or three infantry companies. The entire structure was surrounded by a dry moat defended by two caponiers.
After the fortress was demilitarized in the 20th century, the massive building served industrial purposes for years, housing, among other things, a knitting factory and a chemical plant, and gradually fell into disrepair. The turning point came in 1999, when the building was rented by
Gdańsk University of Humanities . Thanks to the university's many years of investment, the building has been largely restored and saved from complete degradation.
The transformation of Reduta Koszarowa from barracks into a university is one of the most telling symbols of the change in the character of the entire district – a place that served as a war site became a space dedicated to science and education.
Scopes and other elements of the defense system
At the beginning of the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, the Gdańsk fortifications were modernized again, this time under the supervision of French engineers.
To meet the challenges posed by artillery with its increasingly greater range, additional, advanced earthworks, called lunettes , were built on the outskirts of Biskupia Górka.
These were independent defensive works, intended to disperse enemy fire and delay its approach to the main ramparts.
The most important of these are the Cafarelli Lunette , the Leclerc Lunette , and the Delzous Lunette . After the Prussian takeover of Gdańsk, they were renamed Knesebeck and Hünerbein, respectively.
Cafarelli's Lunette has survived to this day and, after the area was tidied up, it serves as a viewing point and also marks the beginning of an educational trail leading along the fortification trail.
An integral part of the defense system was also an internal communications network. A key element is the postern , preserved to this day – an underground brick corridor with stairs that provided soldiers with safe passage from the Barracks Redoubt, located at the top of the hill, to the lower positions towards the Wiebe Bastion.
This unique monument of military engineering is currently in poor technical condition and inaccessible, but local activists have been campaigning for years to have it restored and made available to visitors.
Monuments and architecture of Biskupia Górka
The architectural heritage of Biskupia Górka is incredibly diverse. Alongside the massive military fortifications that have dominated its landscape for centuries, there is a unique complex of residential buildings, as well as religious and public buildings that tell the story of the multicultural and multifunctional past of this part of Gdańsk.
Tenement houses from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries
What gives Biskupia Górka its unique, intimate character is its compact residential development, which largely survived the devastation of World War II. Walking along Biskupia , Na Stoku , or Salwator streets, you might feel like you've traveled back in time to Gdańsk at the turn of the 20th century.
The preserved tenement houses represent historicist styles typical of that era, with richly decorated facades, bay windows and characteristic window joinery.
The charm of these streets is enhanced by details that speak to the historical continuity of this place: original granite paving stones, narrow staircases, and even remnants of former gas lighting. Each building has its own story.
The tenement house at Biskupia 15 is distinguished by its light brick façade and a balcony supported by metal consoles with plant motifs.
In turn, the building at Biskupia 4, built in the 1920s, has more modernist features, with characteristic loggias.
It is this authentic, preserved urban fabric, neglected for years, that has become the foundation for the current revitalization. Thanks to meticulous conservation work, it has regained its former splendor, becoming the district's greatest asset.
This extraordinary authenticity is largely an unintended consequence of the post-war marginalization of Biskupia Górka.
The lack of significant investments and development projects during the communist era, which in other parts of the city led to modernization or demolition, here contributed to the "freezing" of the historical urban layout.
It was this "gracious neglect" that preserved the unique character of the district, which today, after its renovation, constitutes its exceptional value.
Mennonite congregation and religious heritage
At the foot of Biskupia Górka, on Menonitów Street, stands one of the district's most valuable religious monuments – the former Mennonite community church . Its history is a testament to Gdańsk's multicultural past.
Mennonites , members of the Anabaptist branch of Protestantism, came to Pomerania in the 16th century, fleeing religious persecution in the Netherlands.
As pacifists and hardworking craftsmen who often operated outside guild structures, they could not settle within the city walls, so they founded their communities in the suburbs, including Biskupia Górka.
Following the unification of the Frisian and Flemish communities at the beginning of the 19th century, the community decided to build a new, representative church. The construction was completed in 1819.
Its architecture perfectly reflected the principles of the Mennonite faith – it is a building in the classicist style, characterized by simplicity, harmony and economy of form, devoid of rich decorations.
A unique construction solution is the support of the entire roof truss on four massive larch columns located inside the temple.
The building, which is the largest preserved Mennonite structure in Europe, was seriously damaged during World War II and afterward taken over by the Pentecostal Church , which still hosts it today.
Paweł Beneke Youth Hostel – history and current functions
At the very top of Biskupia Górka stands a monumental building whose history is one of the most complex and symbolic chapters in the history of the district.
The building of the former Paweł Beneke youth hostel , constructed in 1938-1940, was one of the most prestigious investments of the Free City of Gdańsk during the period of Nazi domination.
The initiator of its construction was Gauleiter Albert Forster , and the design, by Hans Richter , consciously referred to the architecture of Teutonic castles, which was intended to be a manifestation of German heritage and power.
The building's architecture served as a propaganda tool. The 25-meter clock tower, dominating the cityscape with its carillon playing patriotic melodies, the massive granite entrance portal, and details like brick swastikas and eagles woven into the half-timbered bay window left no doubt as to the building's ideological message.
Even the patron saint, the 15th-century Gdańsk privateer Paul Beneke , was created as a Germanic maritime hero.
The history of the building's use is equally complex. Although it was officially a youth hostel for Hitler Youth, in March 1945, during the defense of Gdańsk, its tower served as a fire control point for German naval artillery.
A moment later, after the Red Army captured the hill, General Pavel Batov commanded the assault on the city from the same place.
After the war, the building served as a dormitory of the Gdańsk University of Technology, and in 1951 it became the headquarters of the Citizens' Militia , inaccessible to civilians, and currently the Police and its Forensic Laboratory .
Its interiors contain unique furnishings, such as a monumental tiled stove depicting the military history of Gdańsk, making it one of the most mysterious and fascinating objects in the city.
The Radunia Canal as an element of landscape and engineering
At the foot of Biskupia Górka flows the Radunia Canal – an outstanding work of medieval hydraulic engineering, which for centuries was the artery of Gdańsk's economic life.
Built by the Teutonic Knights in the 14th century, the 13.5 km long canal was precisely routed to take advantage of the natural slope of the terrain to power the numerous mills, forges and sawmills that formed the industrial heart of the Old Town.
For Biskupia Górka, the canal forms a natural southwestern boundary, separating its steep slopes from Zaroślak and Stare Przedmieście. For centuries, it has not only been a source of energy but also provided drinking water and fed the city's moats.
Today, following the regulation of the riverbed following the flood in 2001, the Radunia Canal serves mainly recreational purposes.
Its embankments have become a popular pedestrian and bicycle route, a green corridor connecting the southern districts of the city with Śródmieście, and constitute a picturesque element of the landscape of the revitalized Biskupia Górka.
Science and technology on Biskupia Górka
Although the history of Biskupia Górka is dominated by a military narrative, the hill has also witnessed extraordinary scientific and engineering achievements.
In the 18th century, it became Gdańsk's window onto the universe, and in the 17th century, the site of a pioneering invention that revolutionized transportation technology. These two episodes demonstrate that Biskupia Górka was not only a defensive bastion but also a space for innovation.
The Nathaniel Wolf Observatory and its significance
During the Enlightenment, Gdańsk was a thriving scientific centre, and one of its most prominent figures was Nathaniel Mateusz Wolf (1724-1784) – a versatile scientist, physician, naturalist and astronomer.
After arriving in Gdańsk, he became involved with the Natural History Society and became famous as a pioneer of variolation , an early form of vaccination against smallpox. His greatest passion, however, was astronomy.
In 1780, thanks to the Society's support, Wolf purchased a plot of land on the top of the Ostroróg Bastion, where he used his own funds to finance the construction and equipment of a modern astronomical observatory, which he called the "Star Observatory" ( Sternwarte ).
He imported the most modern equipment from England, which made the facility one of the leading ones in this part of Europe.
For years he conducted regular observations of the sky there and published the results of his research in prestigious scientific journals, becoming a member of the British
Royal Society .
Unfortunately, history dealt a cruel blow to Wolf's work. During the siege of Gdańsk by Russian and Prussian forces in 1813, the observatory was completely destroyed.
However, the memory of the astronomer survived in legend, and his last wish – to be buried near his beloved "Star Spotting" – became an inspiration for modern seekers.
In 2019, thanks to the efforts of local associations and historians, his grave was found in the police area on the Ostroróg Bastion, which was one of the greatest historical and archaeological discoveries in Gdańsk in recent years.
Adam Wijbe's cable car – a pioneering invention
More than 140 years before the Wolf Observatory was built, Biskupia Górka became the scene of another groundbreaking achievement, this time in the field of engineering.
In 1644, during intensive work on the expansion of Gdańsk's fortifications, the Dutch constructor Adam Wijbe (also known as Wybe Adams) faced a huge logistical challenge: how to efficiently transport thousands of cubic meters of earth from the leveled summit of Biskupia Górka to the construction site of a new bastion in the Old Suburb.
His solution was revolutionary. Wijbe designed and built the world's first multi-support cable car . The structure consisted of a cable suspended from seven wooden poles, on which more than 120 baskets filled with earth moved.
The entire system was powered by a treadmill drawn by four horses. This invention proved to be extremely efficient, allowing for the transport of vast quantities of material and significantly accelerating fortification work.
The Wijbe Railway, which ran over the Radunia Canal, was the largest structure of its kind until the 19th century and marked a milestone in the history of technology. The bastion it was used to build was named the Wijbe Bastion in honor of its designer, commemorating his engineering genius.
These two examples – the Wijbe funicular and the Wolf observatory – create a fascinating duality in the heritage of Biskupia Górka. They demonstrate that the same place, the same strategic point on the city map, can serve two radically different purposes.
On the one hand, it was a field for innovation in the service of war, where the latest technology was used to build increasingly powerful fortifications.
On the other hand, the same space, shaped by the military, became a place of quiet, peaceful scientific work, where people's gaze was directed not at the enemy at the foot of the hill, but towards the stars.
This duality enriches the identity of Biskupia Górka, showing it as a place where the most advanced technical and scientific ideas of its time intersected.
Revitalization and contemporary metamorphosis of the district
For much of the second half of the 20th century, Biskupia Górka was synonymous with decline. Located in the heart of the city, yet cut off from it, with beautiful yet decaying buildings, it grappled with social and infrastructural problems.
A turning point came in the second decade of the 21st century, when the district was included in the Municipal Revitalization Program . This was the beginning of the greatest transformation in its modern history – a process that was intended not only to renovate the buildings and streets but, above all, to restore life and pride to the district.
Goals and stages of revitalization of Biskupia Górka
The revitalization program for Biskupia Górka and neighboring Stary Chełm, launched in 2017, was a comprehensive undertaking whose goals went far beyond standard renovations. It aimed for a profound, multi-dimensional renewal encompassing the social, economic, spatial, and environmental spheres.
The main goals included increasing access to social services, increasing safety, improving housing conditions, and activating and integrating the local community.
The scale of the project was impressive: it covered an area of 104 hectares, inhabited by over 6,000 people.
The total investment cost, initially estimated at over PLN 28 million, ultimately exceeded PLN 90 million, a significant portion of which came from funds obtained from the European Union and the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego Subsidy Fund.
The work, carried out in several stages, was extremely logistically complex. It required the simultaneous modernization of underground infrastructure, the repair of street surfaces (Biskupia, Na Stoku, Salwator, and Zaroślak), and the thorough renovation of dozens of buildings in a very compact and difficult-to-access area.
The role of Gdańskie Nieruchomości in modernization
A key role in the physical transformation of Biskupia Górka was played by the municipal company Gdańskie Nieruchomości , which was responsible for the comprehensive renovation of 13 municipal buildings. These were not superficial aesthetic improvements, but rather profound interventions into the structure of the centuries-old tenement houses.
Due to the district's location in a landslide area, each of the renovated buildings required massive structural reinforcements – an average of 30-40 tons of steel was used per building.
The scope of work included everything from the foundations to the roof: construction of new foundation slabs, waterproofing, replacement of all ceilings with reinforced concrete ones, construction of new roofs and replacement of all installations – water and sewage, electrical, heating (with connection to the municipal heating network) and telecommunications.
All these activities were carried out under the strict supervision of the conservator, which guaranteed the preservation of the historical character of the buildings, including the restoration of architectural details and window joinery in the original style.
As a result, 83 modern, safe, and fully equipped municipal apartments were created. A parallel revitalization program offered financial support to housing communities, which 35 of them took advantage of, allowing for the renovation of additional buildings in the district.
Summary of selected renovations of municipal buildings as part of the Biskupia Górka Revitalization Program
Building address | Investment cost (PLN) | Start date | End date | Key work performed |
Salwator Street 7 | 1,839,886.78 | June 2022 | June 2023 | First renovated building; renovation of the facade, interior reconstruction, creation of 2 apartments. |
8A Biskupia Street | 3,430,995.99 | September 2022 | July 2024 | Structural reinforcements, facade maintenance, new installations. |
11 Biskupia Street | 5,826,881.09 | September 2022 | December 2024 | Full renovation with restoration of historical details. |
17 Biskupia Street | 4,254,154.57 | November 2022 | January 2024 | Renovation of the facade, creation of 5 new residential units. |
Na Stoku Street 12B | 1,552,437.47 | December 2022 | November 2024 | Roof replacement, interior modernization, installation of an energy management system (BMS). |
Na Stoku Street 15 | n/a | March 2023 | October 2024 | Comprehensive renovation, creation of 8 new apartments. |
Na Stoku Street 25 | 7,539,548.41 | March 2023 | December 2024 | Comprehensive modernization together with the neighboring building at 23 Na Stoku Street. |
Na Stoku Street 35 | 4,242,987.08 | October 2022 | January 2024 | Full renovation of a tenement house from 1900. |
Renovated tenement houses and public spaces
The result of years of work is a spectacular visual transformation of Biskupia Górka. The contrast between its pre-revitalization state—cracking walls, crumbling plaster, potholed streets, and pervasive damp—and the district's current appearance is striking.
The renovated facades of the tenement houses, with meticulously recreated details, have restored the district's historic beauty.
The transformation also extended to public spaces. The district's main streets received new paving, smooth sidewalks, and small-scale architectural elements, such as stylized lampposts and benches, that enhance the area's historic atmosphere.
As part of the project, green areas were tidied up, creating new places for recreation and relaxation that serve both residents and the increasing number of tourists who come here.
Social and cultural effects of change
However, the most important and lasting effect of revitalization is the change that has taken place in the social sphere.
From the outset, the program assumed that physical regeneration must go hand in hand with rebuilding the social fabric and combating exclusion. Local non-governmental organizations played a key role in this process, especially
WAGA Association . A renovated tenement house at 4 Biskupia Street houses the Neighborhood House and Senior Support Center – places that have become the heart of the local community. Activities for children, youth, and seniors are organized there, along with workshops and meetings, and psychological support is provided.
The city also engaged residents in direct activities for the benefit of their surroundings, implementing so-called backyard projects .
As part of these initiatives, neighbors jointly arranged and greened the space around their homes, which built a sense of shared responsibility for the district.
These “soft” social activities, combined with “hard” infrastructure investments, created a synergistic effect.
The renovated space became a stage for new cultural and social initiatives, and the strengthened community began to actively use it and care for it.
The success of this holistic approach has been recognized externally – the Biskupia Górka revitalization project won, among others, an award in the competition
Tourism and education in the district space
With the ongoing revitalization, Biskupia Górka began to attract the attention not only of Gdańsk residents, but also of tourists looking for authentic, less frequented places.
Its unique historical, architectural and scenic values have become the basis for the development of a new tourist and educational offer that allows visitors to discover the richness of this extraordinary part of the city.
Guided walk around Biskupia Górka
One of the most popular ways to explore Biskupia Górka is through walks with local guides . This initiative perfectly aligns with the idea of sustainable tourism, based on authentic stories and the passion of its residents.
Guides, often passionate about or local to the district, offer a unique perspective on its history, architecture and secrets.
The walking programs are very diverse, allowing you to discover the district multiple times from different perspectives.
Some routes focus on military heritage, taking participants along the trail of former barracks and shelters. Others focus on social history, telling the stories of ordinary and extraordinary residents, including the Mennonite community and Bruno Zwarra.
There are also thematic walks devoted to architecture, crime stories from the pre-war press, and the role of the Radunia Canal.
These trips, organised by the City Culture Institute and local associations, are extremely popular, attracting hundreds of people each year and becoming an important element of the district's cultural life.
Educational trail around the fortifications
The mighty fortifications of Biskupia Górka, though often hidden by greenery, offer enormous educational potential. To capitalize on this potential, a historical and natural educational trail was created in 2018 as part of the Citizens' Budget .
It consists of five information boards placed at key points of the former defense system.
The path begins at the renovated Cafarelli Luneta, near Pohulanka Street, and leads along the preserved bastions and ramparts.
The boards contain information not only about the history and function of individual military facilities, but also about the former residential colonies that were built on the former fortress sites, and about the natural values of the area.
This initiative allows for independent exploration and learning about the district's military past, making it an accessible and attractive open-air museum.
The "Biskupia Górka Closer" Festival and other events
The culminating moment, which symbolically opened a new chapter in the history of the district, was a series of events under the slogan "Biskupia Górka closer" , organized to celebrate the completion of a key stage of revitalization.
In the spring of 2025, the renovated streets and squares became the stage for a festival that attracted thousands of Gdańsk residents.
The event program was extremely rich and diverse, reflecting the multidimensional character of the district.
There were concerts (including those by Radosław Skubas), theatre performances for children and adults (including the play "The Stove from Biskupia Górka"), fire theatre shows, workshops, open-air exhibitions devoted to history and residents, as well as a summer cinema.
An important element were events related to the heritage of the place: thrilling walks after dark, screenings of films about Nathaniel Wolf and public readings of excerpts from Bruno Zwarra's memoirs.
The festival has become a manifestation of the new, open identity of Biskupia Górka – a place that proudly shares its history and invites the entire city to join it.
Urban planning and streets of Biskupia Górka
The urban layout of Biskupia Górka is a direct reflection of its complicated history.
Steep slopes, former fortification lines and natural watercourses have shaped a network of narrow, winding streets that create a unique, intimate atmosphere.
It is this historical layout, largely preserved, that makes the district unique.
Biskupia, Na Stoku and Salwator Streets – the main arteries of the district
Three main streets – Biskupia , Na Stoku , and Salwator – form the district's spine. Each has its own distinct history and character.
Biskupia Street is the longest and most representative artery, climbing from the foot to the top of the hill.
Its buildings, dating mainly from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, create picturesque, compact frontages. The history of this street's naming is complicated; over the years, sections of it have been named
Schwarzes Meer (Black Sea), Grosse Berggasse , and finally Bischofsberg . This was the center of the former district's commercial and service life, with numerous shops, cafés, and craft workshops.
Na Stoku Street , visible on maps as early as the 16th century, runs along the southern slope of the hill. Its history is closely linked to the 400-year-old cemetery of the Parish of St. Savior, which was closed in the 1960s.
During the interwar period, the street was called Grenadiergasse . Like Biskupia Street, it housed numerous services, such as a mangle, a colonial warehouse, and a bakery.
Salwator Street was formally separated in 1884 from the area known as Schwarzes Meer . Its name, like that of one of the bastions, comes from the nearby Church and Cemetery of St. Savior ( Salvator ).
It is on this street, at number 7, that there is a small, charming tenement house, which was the first to undergo a comprehensive renovation as part of the revitalization program.
Residential colonies in former fortress areas
After World War I and the establishment of the Free City of Gdańsk, the military areas on Biskupia Górka were demilitarized.
This opened up the possibility of developing new residential buildings in areas that had previously been the foreground of the fortifications.
In response to the difficult housing situation in the city, the idea of allotment gardens, inspired by the concept of German doctor Daniel Schreber, has gained popularity.
On the slopes of Biskupia Górka, so-called colonies were built – estates of small houses with gardens that served not only a recreational but primarily residential function.
Their names often had an idyllic, positive character, e.g. Bergshöhe (Mountain Top), Lieblingsruh (Favorite Silence) or Sonnental (Sunny Valley).
In their place, streets were later laid out, their names referencing this heritage: Kolonia Studentów , Kolonia Postępu , and Kolonia Przyszłość . These estates, a unique example of interwar social housing, have retained their intimate, green character to this day.
Contemporary challenges and heritage protection
The completion of the main phase of Biskupia Górka's revitalization doesn't mean the end of challenges. Having regained its former glory, the district now faces the task of protecting its unique heritage—both tangible and intangible—and confronting new threats that could undermine the results of years of work.
Japanese knotweed as a threat to infrastructure
One of the most serious and unexpected threats to the renovated Biskupia Górka is the invasive plant – Japanese knotweed ( Reynoutria japonica ).
This extremely expansive perennial, once planted as an ornamental plant, has turned out to be a serious threat to infrastructure.
Its powerful root system and rhizomes can grow several meters, penetrate cracks in foundations, retaining walls and road surfaces, and then burst them from the inside.
More than a dozen knotweed outbreaks have already been identified on Biskupia Górka, both near old and recently renovated buildings. The plant has appeared on slopes, along the Radunia Canal, and even in cracks in retaining walls, causing them to crumble.
Combating knotweed is extremely difficult and expensive; it requires systematic, long-term action, and in landslide areas, such as Biskupia Górka, the use of some mechanical methods is impossible.
In response to alarms from residents and local activists, the city has taken action to remove the plant, but this is a lengthy process requiring the coordination of many institutions and property managers.
Protecting investments worth over PLN 90 million from this biological threat is currently one of the key challenges for the future of the district.
Preserving identity and cultural heritage
A second, equally important challenge is protecting the unique identity and cultural heritage of Biskupia Górka in the face of growing popularity and tourist pressure. A key role in this process is played by social organizations that have been working on behalf of the district for years.
The Biskupia Górka Association , founded by residents and lovers of this place, conducts extensive activities for the protection and promotion of local heritage.
Its main statutory goals include protecting the values of historic architecture, popularizing knowledge about the district, commemorating important figures and events, and stimulating cultural life.
The Association runs the internet portal ksiapiagorka.pl , which is the main source of information about the district, as well as
The Biskupia Górka Community Archives collect photographs, documents, memories, and objects related to its history. These activities, conducted largely on a voluntary basis, are invaluable for preserving the intangible heritage and identity of the place.
In the future, the association dreams of establishing the Biskupia Górka Museum , which could become an institutional guardian of the memory of this unique part of Gdańsk.
Biskupia Górka as part of Gdańsk
After years of physical and mental isolation, Biskupia Górka is reincorporating itself into the fabric and consciousness of the city. Its rebirth is not just a local change, but a process that enriches the entire city of Gdańsk, adding to its map a unique, authentic place that combines history, culture, and a unique atmosphere.
The importance of the district in the city structure
Biskupia Górka, although administratively part of Śródmieście, has for years functioned as a separate, somewhat isolated enclave. Its strategic location, right next to the Main Town, is both its greatest asset and its historical curse.
Its proximity to the center makes it easily accessible, while its elevated position and intimate character allow you to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.
Revitalization has restored and strengthened its connections with the rest of the city. Renovated infrastructure and new public spaces encourage visitors, and the growing cultural and tourist offerings mean that Biskupia Górka is no longer just a "transit district" or "bedroom town." It is becoming a destination in itself – a place for strolls, meetings, and historical exploration.
Its role in the structure of the city is evolving from a forgotten hinterland to an important element of its cultural and tourist identity.
Biskupia Górka as the "Gdańsk Montmartre" – a new identity for the place
As the transformation continues, Biskupia Górka is increasingly being compared to Montmartre in Paris . While this analogy may seem exaggerated at first glance, it has profound justification.
Like its Parisian counterpart, Biskupia Górka is a historic district perched on a hill offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city. It is characterized by a network of steep, cobbled streets, a cozy atmosphere, and a rich history where the fates of artists and nonconformists intertwine.
It was here that painters created their work, and writers such as Brunon Zwarra and Stanisława Przybyszewska found their place. Picturesque alleys and unusual light have attracted filmmakers for years – scenes for such classics as
"Goodbye, See You Tomorrow" by Janusz Morgenstern . Today, after revitalization, this artistic potential is being revived. The activities of local associations, the neighborhood house, and the growing number of cultural events create fertile ground for a new bohemia.
Although Biskupia Górka retains its unique Gdańsk identity, the comparison to Montmartre aptly reflects its new role – an inspiring, slightly mysterious place full of creative energy.
Connections with the Main Town and other districts
Despite its physical proximity, Biskupia Górka's historical relationship with the Main Town was complex. For centuries, it was perceived as an "external" settlement – first as a bishop's estate, then as part of the fortification system surrounding the city.
It served as an economic base, providing building materials (from the Sandpit) and being a craft center that competed with city guilds.
The development of the Main Town and the increasing population density meant that residents sought living space in the suburbs, such as Biskupia Górka.
In the 20th century, the construction of a wide thoroughfare at its foot deepened the physical barrier that separated it from the historic center.
Today's revitalization and cultural activities are aimed not only at renovating the district itself, but also at rebuilding its mental and functional connections with the rest of Gdańsk.
Through the organisation of events, tourist promotion and the creation of attractive public spaces, Biskupia Górka is reintegrating into the urban organism, becoming an inseparable and extremely valuable part of its identity.
Its history, for centuries written on the margins of the great history of Gdańsk, today finally takes its rightful place at the very heart of the city's narrative.
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