Bazylika Mariacka

Bazylika Mariacka, St Mary's Basilica, is one of the largest brick churches in the world. It is a vast Brick Gothic hall church in the Main Town of Gdansk, begun in the 14th century and finished in 1502. Locals call it the Crown of Gdansk. The interior is white, tall and unusually open, and it can hold a very large congregation, with figures often put at up to 25,000 people.

Two things bring most people here: the scale of the church itself, and the climb up the tower for the best rooftop view in the city. The basilica sits a short walk from the main sights, so it slots easily into a walk down Dlugi Targ and along the river. Entry to the church is usually by a small donation, and the tower is a separate ticket.

The nave is the main event: a plain, light-filled brick interior on a scale that is hard to take in from photographs. Look for the large astronomical clock in the north transept, a tall medieval piece with a calendar and moving figures. There is also a stone Pieta and a copy of Hans Memling's Last Judgement, the original of which is held by the National Museum in Gdansk. The plainness is deliberate, the result of the city's Protestant centuries, and it gives the space its calm.

The tower is about 78 metres tall, and the climb to the viewing terrace is 405 steps up a narrow brick staircase. There is no lift. At the top you get a full circle over the red rooftops of the old town, the Motlawa river and, on a clear day, out towards the coast. Wear proper shoes and take your time on the way up, as the stairs are steep and can be busy in summer.

Twenty minutes is enough to walk the interior. Add another thirty to forty-five minutes for the tower climb, allowing for the queue and the descent. An hour covers both comfortably.

The basilica is in the middle of the Main Town, on Podkramarska, just off the market streets. The whole area is pedestrianised, so you arrive on foot. From the main railway station it is about a fifteen-minute walk. For orientation and transport across the city, see the Gdansk guide.

The church floor is flat and step-free at the main entrances, so the interior is manageable for wheelchairs and prams. The tower is reached by stairs only and is not accessible to anyone who cannot manage a long, steep climb.

Everything in the Main Town is a few minutes away on foot:

• The Neptune Fountain and Artus Court on Dlugi Targ.
• The Crane (Zuraw) and the Motlawa waterfront.
• The market streets around the church, good for amber and a coffee stop.

It is 405 steps up a narrow staircase to the viewing terrace, with no lift. Allow time and reasonable footwear.

Yes. It is regularly listed among the largest brick churches anywhere, alongside a small number of other giant Gothic buildings in Europe.

The church itself is usually entered on a small donation, and the tower climb is a separate paid ticket. Check current details on the basilica's official channels.