Polish Naval Museum in Gdynia opens its doors on Independence Day, 11 November

A navy almost as old as the republic

The date carries particular meaning for the Polish Navy. Poland regained its independence on 11 November 1918, and just seventeen days later, on 28 November, Józef Piłsudski signed the decree establishing the navy. Gdynia, built from a fishing village in the interwar years as the young state's gateway to the sea, remains Poland's main naval base, and the museum on the city's seafront boulevard sits within walking distance of the places where that history unfolded.

The guided tour, led by museum staff, takes visitors through the story of the fleet from the first ships of the Second Republic, through the Second World War fought from British ports, to today's service in the Baltic. The tour is free but booking is required, by telephone on +48 58 620 13 81, extensions 22 or 20, or by e-mail at rezerwacja@muzeummw.pl. Visitors who prefer to explore at their own pace can do so throughout the opening hours.

For visitors to the Tri-City over the November holiday, the open day is an easy addition to a walk along Gdynia's waterfront, where the museum stands close to the destroyer ORP Błyskawica, one of the oldest preserved warships of its type in the world.