Gdańsk, Poland, is one such example. Its long and checkered past has resulted in a fascinating array of architecture. The first written record of settlement in Gdańsk dates back to around 997 CE. Its position at the delta of the Vistula River close to the Baltic Sea meant that it was ideally situated for mercantile trade, and it flourished as a Hanseatic League port beginning in the 1300s. Thanks to the export of vast quantities of grain, timber, and amber, wealth flooded in, resulting in some of the city's most magnificent buildings. One you can't miss is the Gothic-style Artus Court: Constructed in the 1470s, it has an elaborate white façade that demands attention. The building has served various functions over the years — including stints as a base for merchant guilds, a courthouse, and the city's stock exchange — and today it's a museum.
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