Dar Pomorza

Gdynia, Poland

Dar Pomorza is a Polish sailing frigate built in 1909 which is preserved in Gdynia as a museum ship. It was built in 1909 by Blohm & Voss and dedicated in 1910 by Deutscher Schulschiff-Verein as the German training ship Prinzess Eitel Friedrich. In 1920, following World War I, the ship was taken as war-reparations by Great Britain, then brought to France, where she was assigned to the seamen's school at St-Nazaire under the name 'Colbert'. The ship was then given to Baron de Forrest as compensation for the loss of a sailing yacht. Due to the high costs of refurbishing the ship, she was sold in 1929.

Still bearing the name Prinzess Eitel Friedrich, the ship was bought by the Polish community of Pomerania for £7,000, as the new training ship for the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia. It was given the name Dar Pomorza, which means 'the gift of Pomerania'.

During the following years, Dar Pomorza was used as a training ship, receiving the nickname 'White Frigate'. In 1934-1935 it traveled around the world. During World War II the ship was interned in Stockholm. After the war she was brought to Poland and used as a training ship again.

In the 1970s Dar Pomorza took part in several Operation Sail and Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races, winning her first race in 1972, taking the 3rd place in 1973, the 4th in 1974 and winning the 1st place and Cutty Sark Trophy in 1980. It was one of several Blohm & Voss-built tall ships, most popular in the world at that time.

Since 1983 Dar Pomorza has been a museum ship in Gdynia.

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Details

Founded: 1909
Category: Museums in Poland

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Adam Kubisiak (18 months ago)
Great sailing ship, history of Polsh Marine! 40years of being Museum but still in condition to Sail!!
Miles Macdonald (2 years ago)
This ship had an exciting past as a Cadet Training Ship. It started service in 1930 and would do a European trip and a longer West Indies trip each year. In 1934 it sailed around the World covering 38746 miles, what an experience that must have been for those fortunate enough to gain a place on that trip. It was also invloved in bicentennial celebrations in USA in 1976. In 1939 she sailed to Sweden and was protected in Stockholm till after the War. Her last voyage was in 1981, she was replaced as the cost of refit would have been almost the same as a new ship. Now she remains a Museum ship. The Museum gives you all of it's history, you can then tour the engine room, living quarters and finally the deck. Well worth the visit.
Kairra O'Mahony (2 years ago)
Fascinating museum about the history of the ship and lots of opportunities to explore the ship and experience how older ships operated. It's not huge, we took our time and talked about a lot of things and finished in about 30/40 minutes. There is a very tiny gift shop that sells things like magnets, bookmarks, postcards etc. A very nice and interesting little museum and a beautiful ship.
Fabiola Dantas (3 years ago)
What a wonderful experience ! These are real treasure of Poland worthy to see. H34 SHIP is massive!!❤
Nevins Chan (3 years ago)
It's a museum on a ship next to a museum on a ship! This museum portrays the history of this specific ship and how it came to be. It's gone through some conversions and have some rooms on display on what people used to live with while on board.
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