Tiegenhof on the Tuga: Culture and History

Tiegenhof (Nowy Dwór Gdański) is located in the area of the Great Żuławy Wiślane on the Tuga River. The Tuga is the main waterway of the Nowy Dwór Gdański municipality and flows through the town. The river is therefore a clear point of reference: a drawbridge crosses it in the town centre, and there is a canoe station on the riverside promenade. A museum in a former dairy and cheese factory, a water tower and local cultural activities add further themes to these connections with the water during your stay.

The Tuga, the drawbridge and the riverside promenade

The drawbridge over the Tuga stands in the centre of Nowy Dwór Gdański. It was built in 1936 and restored in 2019. The two dates mark different stages in its history: its year of construction and a later restoration. Located on the river, the bridge connects two prominent points of reference in the town. Those interested in architecture will find a tangible link to the town’s history here.

A canoe station is located on Wejhera Street, along the riverside promenade in Nowy Dwór Gdański. Alongside the historic bridge, it brings canoeing into the picture of the local waterscape. The drawbridge and canoe station offer different perspectives: one is a structure with a clear historical date, while the other is a named point of reference for activities on the water. Together with the Tuga, they help put the town’s water-related themes into context.

Museums and buildings in Tiegenhof

The Żuławy Museum is located in Żuławski Park Historyczny, in a former cheese factory and dairy building dating from 1902. The museum houses Poland’s largest exhibition on Mennonites. Here, a museum focus on Mennonite history meets the building’s former use. This provides a distinctive thematic anchor for exploring Tiegenhof’s history: the exhibition and the building’s history point to different aspects of the town.

Another notable structure is the water tower in the town park on Tuwima Street. It was built in 1909 and stands 30 metres tall. Unlike the drawbridge, which lies directly over the Tuga, the tower can be understood through its location in the town park and its height. The bridge and the water tower thus represent two different ways of discovering the town’s built history.

Culture and regional history

The Żuławski Ośrodek Kultury in Nowy Dwór Gdański organizes workshops, concerts, performances and gatherings, as well as artistic projects. Its offerings also include the ŻUŁAWY cinema, which is run by the Żuławski Ośrodek Kultury. This means that, alongside historic buildings, the town also offers specific cultural attractions. When planning your stay around your interests, you could, for example, combine the history of the museum and buildings with activities at the cultural centre. For individual events, their respective dates are what matter.

The history of a drink is also part of the local story: the Stobbes Machandel distillery was established in Nowy Dwór Gdański in 1776. The famous juniper schnapps Machandel was produced there until 1945. This timeline highlights the historic nature of the production and adds an aspect of local food and drink history to the town’s cultural and architectural history.

In the area of the municipality, the Mennonite Trail includes several historic cemeteries in Orłowo, Stawiec, Marynowy, Różewo and Żelichowo. Many stelae, cippi and cast-iron crosses have been preserved there. The cemeteries and grave markers provide another focus for anyone interested in the municipality’s Mennonite history. Together with the exhibition at the Żuławy Museum, they offer a perspective on this subject both in the museum and at historic cemetery sites—alongside the water and architectural themes that also shape Tiegenhof.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Stegna, Nowy Dwór Gdański, Junoszyno, Żuławki, Myszewko, Jazowa, Jantar, Mikoszewo, Nowa Cerkiew, Krynica Morska, Sztutowo, Kobyla Kępa, Drewnica

To the main travel overview: Pomerania.