Prussian Partition Circle Tour

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1 Prussian Partition Circle Tour Created and led for PGSA by Dates : Duration: Arrival: Departure: May 11th 22nd September 7th - 18th 12 days Gdańsk Gdańsk We offer you an unforgettable tour to through the heart of the region that for more than two centuries was part of Prussia and Imperial Germany. The tour includes: 12-day program prepared especially for members of PGSA, based on our 10 year experience organizing genealogy tours and providing genealogy research 11 nights in the most beautiful Pommeranian towns: Gdaosk (5 nights), Toruo (2 nights), Gniezno (1night), Poznao (1 night), Szczecin (1 night), Kołobrzeg (1 night) 14 towns to be visited: Gdaosk, Gdynia, Sopot, Malbork, Pelplin, Rywałd, Toruo, Gniezno, Lednica, Poznao, Wolsztyn, Szczecin, Kołobrzeg, Lębork 4 genealogy sessions: o a presentation of the State Archive in Gdaosk o a visit & lecture in the Diocesan Archive in Pelplin o presentation of the Diocesan Archive in Poznao o "Pommeranian Ancestry" - an afternoon workshop with our specialists As an option, we offer individual 1- or 2-day trips to the places related to your ancestry - if not covered by the tour program

2 DAY 1 Arrival in Gdaosk (Danzig). Transfer from the airport to the hotel in the center of Gdaosk. Time to relax. In the evening - welcome meeting & walk around the Old Town. DAY 2 Arrive Gdańsk, Poland, formerly: Prussian Danzig. We start our tour by exploring the Old Town of Gdańsk, where the Teutonic and Polish kings used to promenade hundreds years ago. Over the centuries Gdansk was a strategic port on the Baltic shore. In the evening, we invite you for a welcome dinner where a fine Polish menu is at its very best. Gdańsk rynek/neptun/kran DAY 3 We start the day with a presentation at the State Archive in Gdaosk, This is where genealogists spend most of the time exploring the genealogies of families from East Prussia and Pomerania. During the lecture organized especially for you, we explain how this archive works. After lunch we drive to the Emigration Museum in Gdynia. It depicts the stories of Poles who emigrated at various periods, to various places and for various reasons. The exhibition allows you to feel and understand what it meant to emigrate. It shows the reality of a sea crossing for 3rd class passengers - from the moment of embarkation all the way through the immigration procedures on the famous Ellis Island.

3 The last activity is a visit to Sopot (Zoppot). The history of this part of Tri-city goes back to 13th century. Over the centuries it was the place where wealthy merchants built their summer residences. You can relax here by walking along the longest pier on the Baltic Sea. Next to it you will find a legendary Grand Hotel that hosted the most prominent European guest. DAY 4 After breakfast we drive to see the medieval Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork - the most complete and elaborate example of a Gothic brick building from the 13th century and also the largest castle in the world measured by land area. It was built in the 14th century by German Teutonic Knights who carried out crusades against the pagans on the Baltic coast. After lunch in Malbork we return to Gdańsk to visit the European Solidarity Centre whose mission is to promote the message of the Solidarity movement and the anticommunist democratic opposition in Poland and throughout the world. As you go from room to room you are told the story of the Solidarity from its humble beginnings to the end of communism and first democratic elections. DAY 5 It is time to move south. Our first stop is the town of Pelpin, where our main destination is the Diocesan Archive that maintains a unique collection of records not available in any other place. You will learn how the archive is organized and how to research records of interest. Afterwards we see the beautiful cathedral that has 23 altars - some of them are over 400 years old.

4 On the way to Toruo we stop in Rywałd - at the Marian Sanctuary that was the place in which the Polish prelate, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyoski, was imprisoned for some time in 1953 and where he drew the Stations of the Cross of the walls of his cell. Rywałd s monastery and church (first mentioned in the 14th century) are a popular pilgrimage destination. Toruń: 3- or 4-star hotel in a central location. DAY 6 We spend the whole day exploring Toruń (German: Thorn), known as the birthplace of Copernicus and one of the best preserved Polish medieval town. Built in the 13th century as a headquarter base for the conquest and evangelization of Prussia, the Old Town impresses with its buildings from the 14th and 15 th centuries including the House of Copernicus. Toruo is known for its gingerbread Pierniki. You will visit the Living Museum of Gingerbread where you not only learn about this sweet but make tour own. Torun: 3-star hotel in a central location. DAY 7 Now we advance to Wielkopolska (Greater Poland). We make a short stop in Gniezno, whose history dates to the 10 th century. It is considered the first capital city of Poland and has been the seat of Polish church officials for nearly 100 years. We visit the Royal Gniezno Cathedral that saw the coronation of several Polish monarchs. Our next destination is Lednica - this little island settlement likely witnessed the most important event in early Polish history: the baptism of Mieszko I. With this ceremony, Christianity was introduced to Poland, and Poland to Christian Europe. Now the island is a home to Poland s largest open-air museum - the Museum of the Piast Dynasty. Poznań: 3-star hotel in a central location.

5 DAY 8 We spend the day exploring Poznań: the charming rynek (market square), the Renaissance Town Hall, National Museum, Grand Theatre, Cathedral, Imperial Castle, and the basilica church on Ostrów Tumski, the birthplace of medieval Poznao. We will visit the Archdiocesan Archive to learn about one of the biggest collections of parish records. You must taste the famous Poznao pastry known as St. Martin s croissant or Rogale Marcioskie. Poznań: 3-star hotel in a central location. DAY 9 After breakfast we leave Poznao to visit the open-air museum in Wolsztyn. The reconstruction of an 1800 s village enables one to see how some of your ancestors lives at that time. Walking among original houses, barns, workshops, an inn and even dog houses, you can move back in time. Our next destination is Szczecin (Stettin), a major seaport on the west and Poland's seventh-largest city. One of its biggest attractions is a viewing terrace called Wały Chrobrego (Hakenterrasse). We will visit the National Museum with its medieval collection, the Ducal Castle, the Old Town and the city's cathedral. Szczecin: 3- or 4-star hotel in a central location. DAY 10 Now, for a little relaxation, we drive to Kołobrzeg (Kolberg), founded by Slavic Pomeranians during the Early Middle Ages. A must see is a monument called the Millennium Memorial. It commemorates "1000 years of Christianity in Pomerania" and a tribute to Polish-German Reconciliation. As our tour comes to an end, in the evening you may join the genealogy workshop, summarizing what you learned during the tour. Afterwards we invite you to the farewell dinner. Kołobrzeg: 3-star or 4-star hotel in a central location.

6 DAY 11 During our drive to Gdańsk, where our tour comes to an end, we take a short break in the charming little town of Lębork (German: Lauenburg) with its quaint buildings and Teutonic Castle. We arrive in Gdaosk in the late afternoon with ample time to relax and savor your last evening Poland. Jakaś fotka Lęborka.. DAY 12 Leisure time and departures from Gdaosk Your transport to the airport is included in the tour. Pre- or Post-Tour Individual Genealogical Services Before or after your PGSA tour, we offer you two additional services by which you can explore the history of your particular family lines. We can perform research as directed by you based on your needs, the brick walls you have come upon or to expand or deepen you already have completed. Want to visit the actual soil of where your ancient roots lie? Let us take you to the areas and towns where your ancestors lived, to the churches where they worshipped, and possibly to the fields in which they worked and the cemeteries where they were buried. To coordinate these plans, begin your contact with us through PGSA as you register for your PGSA tour. Costs $2,400 Per person ($200/day) $ 769 Single supplement Includes: Transport from and to Kraków airport. Let us know if you are arriving or departing by train or other means because of personal travel. Comfortable, air-conditioned transportation Accommodation in 3- or 4-star hotels, buffet breakfast included (9 nights) Meals as per itinerary (7 x lunch, 1 x welcome dinner, 1 x work-shop dinner, 1 x farewell lunch) English-speaking tour escort assistance Entrance fees to all the places mentioned in the itinerary and obligatory local tour guides 3 genealogy sessions: State Archive in Gdaosk Diocesan Archive in Pelplin Archdiocesan Archive in Poznao Special Notes: Passport (not expiring within six months of return travel); No visa requirement Please advise us of any dietary or health restrictions On the PGSA website, please refer to Some Important Points on the Itinerary page and the Terms and Conditions on the Registration Form for further details.