Grodzisko, Gdańsk

Grodzisko was initially home to a stronghold guarding the city of Gdańsk, a role it served as early as the 9th century. By 1392, it had been further developed with gardens, and became part of Gdańsk in 1454.^[1] It was progressively militarized, with an instance of it being used for military purposes being during the Danzig rebellion in 1577. It was also a fort of François Joseph Lefebvre during the siege of Danzig in 1807.^[2]

Military use of Grodzisko, known in German as Hagelsberg, continued up to 1973, including as a base for anti-aircraft warfare during World War II. After the war, it was used as a location for military radio broadcasting. In 1973, an initial project for repurposing the area was proposed, with the idea being to create a new Youth Centre of Culture, but this was not realized. Since 1997, Grodzisko has been occupied by a public park, as well as Hevelianum [pl], a museum. The most significant recent addition is the completion of the Cross of Two Millennia of Christianity and a Millennium of Gdańsk in 2000.^[3]