A Modernist Gem: Gdynia’s Historical Centre Added to the UNESCO List
During the 48th session of the UNESCO Committee in South Korea, the decision was made to include Gdynia’s beautiful modernist centre on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A well-deserved recognition, it becomes Poland’s 18th site on the list.
The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Gdynia being granted city rights. What better way to celebrate than with its historical centre joining the ranks of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Gdynia authorities emphasised that its centre is unique on a global scale, as they note on their website:
Text
There are but a few cities in the world whose city centres were built in a uniform modernist style, and in our part of Europe, Gdynia is the only one. Gdynia’s Modernist City Centre covers approximately 88 hectares and is made up of nearly 450 buildings.
Picture display
standardowy (864px desktop)
The ZUS / PLO / City Council building, photo: Sebastian Góra / Getty Images
Following Poland’s return to the map after World War I, Gdynia was transformed from a small fishing village into one of the country’s most important ports. As the city expanded at an extraordinary pace, architects embraced the modernist movement, creating a cohesive urban landscape that symbolised the ambitions of the newly independent Polish state.
Designed largely in the 1920s and 1930s, Gdynia city centre’s clean geometric forms, streamlined façades, rounded corners inspired by ocean liners, and functional designs reflected the optimism and innovation of the interwar period.
Gdynia joins 17 other Polish UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Kraków's Historic Centre, the Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines, and the Medieval Town of Toruń. Discover them all here!
Congratulations, Gdynia!
Compiled by NR, 27 July 2026