Gdańsk has a new monument. The railway station in Oliwa and the entire accompanying complex of buildings has just been entered in the register. Also protected are the historic long-distance platform with its infrastructure, the underground tunnel with exits to the platforms, the former workshops, toilets, railway depot, signal box building and the surrounding area with old trees. It is a decision that underlines the importance of the site in both a historical and architectural context.
The history of the station dates back to 1869-1870, when the Pomeranian Rear Railway line appeared in Oliva as part of a larger project of the Berlin-Szczecin Railway Company. This connection ran from Slupsk to Gdansk, covering towns such as Lębork, Wejherowo, Reda and Sopot. It was the third railway in Gdansk, and the first to connect the city with Wrzeszcz and further to Central and Western Pomerania. The railway line in Oliwa was laid out along the historic road connecting Gdansk and Sopot. The station building, originally named Oliva, was erected on the site of a dirt road leading towards the shore of the Gulf of Gdansk. Despite the passage of years, the spatial layout of the station complex from 1870-1939 has remained largely intact and its architecture still reflects the original design.
The railway station in Oliwa in the 1970s Source: PP Pracownie Konserwacji Zabytków Branch in Gdańsk, Pracownia Dokumentacji Naukowo-Historycznej
Although the building has undergone some changes over the decades, including plastering of the building, modifications to the window and door woodwork or adaptation of the interior of the north wing, this has not significantly affected its historical value. Moreover, some of these changes can be reversed, restoring the station’s former character. Entry in the register of historical monuments does not mean that modernisation is completely prohibited. On the contrary, renovation and adaptation works are possible, provided that the historical substance of the building is respected. This is a step towards protecting heritage and preserving an important element of Gdansk’s landscape for future generations. As experts emphasise, the Oliwa railway station is a testimony to the past, illustrating the development of the region and socio-economic changes.
The decision to enter it in the register of monuments was signed by the Pomeranian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments, Dariusz Chmielewski, on 3 March 2025. Although not yet legally binding, it represents an important step towards protecting and preserving the historic character of the site.
Source: Voivodeship Historic Preservation Office in Gdańsk
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Facade | Monument | History | Gdańsk
