Hidden among Gdańsk's historic streets, the Bread Bridge is easy to miss — but its story spans more than six centuries. Once an important crossing for medieval merchants, today it has become one of the city's most romantic spots, covered with hundreds of colorful love locks.

Connecting the streets above the Radunia Canal, the bridge offers a peaceful stop just a few minutes from the busy Long Market while revealing another chapter of Gdańsk's fascinating past.

Why Is It Called the Bread Bridge?

The bridge owes its name to the bread stalls that once stood nearby during the Middle Ages. Bakers and merchants sold fresh bread in this part of the city, making the crossing an important link between local trade and everyday life.

The present bridge stands on a site that has served as a crossing since around the 14th century, when the Radunia Canal became one of Gdańsk's most important engineering projects. Built to supply water and power mills, the canal also played a key role in the city's development.

Today, the bridge no longer serves merchants carrying bread across the city, but it continues to connect people in a different way.

From Trade Route to Bridge of Love

In 2011, couples began attaching love locks to the bridge's railings as a symbol of lasting affection. Although this tradition is relatively new, it has quickly transformed the Bread Bridge into one of Gdańsk's best-known romantic landmarks.

Look for the engraved names, dates and personal messages on the locks. Together they tell hundreds of small stories left behind by visitors from around the world.

Did You Notice?

Although it's often called Gdańsk's Bridge of Love, this romantic tradition is surprisingly recent. The first love locks appeared only in 2011, while the crossing itself has existed for more than 600 years.

Continue Exploring

From Bread Bridge, it's just a short walk to the Great Mill, St. Catherine's Church, the Long Market, Mariacka Street, the Neptune Fountain and the Crane (Żuraw). Together, these landmarks reveal how medieval trade, waterways and centuries of history shaped the city of Gdańsk.