Stolem and St. Mary's Basilica in Gda艅sk
Stolem, or the giant, is the most popular character from the Kashubian legends. Did you know that one of the Kashubian giants once visited Gda艅sk?
Apparently, when many towns and villages were established in Kashubia, most giants moved to Scandinavia, but not all... One of them stayed in Pomerania and he once decided to visit Gda艅sk. When he came to the city, he was most impressed with the unfinished tower of St. Mary's Basilica: flat... like a stool!
Stolem sat on the flat roof of St. Mary's tower, chatting with the city's inhabitants. He gifted the children with "toys" he had made: stone figurines of animals and dragons. However, since they were too large and heavy to play with, they now adorn Gda艅sk's doorsteps, perhaps you might spot one?
And Stolem wandered all the way to the Tatra Mountains, where he lay down and, tired from the long journey, supposedly fell asleep and is still sleeping a "stone sleep"...
Legend based on the e-book K. Czaykowska-St贸j, D. Ikonnikow "Gda艅sk legends retold"
PS. If you want to learn more about Gda艅sk legends "on the ground", we recommend the following walking route:
Medium
Wilczyce - 膯wilin. Rosary Road and bike trail
Publish Date: 2023-01-19
Last Updated: 2023-02-20