User:Podrozniczek/Test

=Hel Peninsula=

The Hel Peninsula (Polish: Półwysep Helski) is a 35-km-long sandy peninsula north of the Polish city of Gdańsk in the Pomorskie voivodeship. The peninsula separates the Bay of Puck on the south with the Baltic Sea on the north. The width from the peninsula varies from 100 meters at its narrowest point to 3 kilometers at the end near the town of Hel, which forms the touristic and cultural centre of the peninsula. The peninsula is a popular destination for summer trips among Polish people. The peninsula attracts people with its beaches, clean air, fishing history and military heritage. Currently around 7,000 people live on the peninsula.

Hel
Hel is a town at the end of Hel peninsula and the biggest settlement on the peninsula. It is surrounded by the sea and is a water sport center. The settlement was first mentioned in the early Middle Ages and its inhabitants lived on piracy. In 1266 Hel received its town charter which was affirmed in 1378. From 1454 until the Second Polish Partition in 1793, Hel was a private property of the city of Gdansk. After World War I, Hel was the biggest Polish fishing harbour. It defended itself for one month against the German invaders at the beginning of World War II.

Jastarnia and Jurata
Jastarnia is village and sea resort situated in the middle of the Hel peninsula. It is one of the most popular sea resorts at the Polish coast with interesting nightlife options during summer. The center is along the Ulica Sychty with a lot of bars and pubs. It leads to a big fishing harbour at the south beach. Tourist ships are starting trips to the Bay of Gdańsk there.

Two kilometers east from Jastarnia in the direction of Hel is Jurata. Jurata was a typical fishing village prior to 1928. Jurata is also the name of a Slavic pagan goddess of the Baltic Sea. The village was named after her.

Kuźnica
Kuźnica is another seaside resort on the Hel Peninsula. The village is mainly inhabited by Kashubians, a distinctive ethnic group.

Chałupy
Chałupy is a small village on the peninsula and the first one when coming from Władysławowo. The village has a population of around 400 inhabitants, though it can be a lot more during summer when large number of tourists come to visit the area.

By public transport
There are a few train stations on the Hel Peninsula, one in every village. Connections are operated by Przewozy Regionalne. The journey to Chałupy takes 55 minutes leaving from Gdynia's main train station. The journey to Hel takes a little less than 1,5 hours from Gdynia.

Coming from the mainland they will be in the following order:
 * — the largest of all and also the final station of the line.
 * — the largest of all and also the final station of the line.
 * — the largest of all and also the final station of the line.
 * — the largest of all and also the final station of the line.
 * — the largest of all and also the final station of the line.

By car
The only way to get to the peninsula by car not using a boat is by droga wojewódzka 216 (DW216), which leads all the way to the town of Hel at the end of the peninsula.

Get around
The town of Hel is pretty small so you can get on foot everywhere. The main road is the Ulica Wiejska with a lot of cafes, bars and souvenir shops. Its fine buildings are from the 19th and early 20th century. The south boulevard leads from the old military harbour to the new harbour, where tourist ships leave for a trip on the sea.

If you wish to see more than the town of Hel a good option is to rent a bike. One of the bike renting companies on the peninsula is Ottobike, which has bike rental shops in the town of Hel, Jastarnia, as well as in the town of Władysławowo at the beginning of the peninsula.

Hel



 * In the pine forest northwest of the city there are several World War II trenches and bunkers. You can climb right into the bunkers, but look out for the barbed wire strung along the ground in some places.

Jastarnia




Events

 * Hel Summer Festival (July).

Buy
Souvenir shops are along the ulica Wiejska in Hel. Amber is a typical souvenir from the peninsula.

Hel

 * Fish restaurants and pubs along the ulica Wiejska (all with fried fish and beer):



Jastarnia

 * Baltyk (ulica Polna 1) is considered to be one of the best fish restaurants on the Hel peninsula.

Drink
Ksiedza Bernarda Szchty is the main street in Jastarnia and has many cafes and bars.



Sleep

 * Lots of rooms and flats for hire.

Go next
Close to the Hel Peninsula are other resort towns like Władysławowo, Chłapowo, Rozewie and Jastrzębia Góra. You can get to Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia by ferry from the town of Hel.